It seems hardly anyone writing on the internet these days knows the proper use of the term "double down." So here it is. It is a term used in the gambling card game of American Blackjack. You double down from a position of strength, when you have 11 and the dealer shows 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The reason you double down is because when you have 11 with these cards showing the odds are dramatically in your favor, which is rare in a casino. Mostly, when I read the term double down, what the writer really means is double or nothing. You go double or nothing when you are desperate. And even if you win, you only get back to nothing, so you still have nothing. Saying that someone has "doubled down" sounds nice, but the reality of it is, unless they are in an extremely strong position to start with, it makes no sense.