"down through the ages"是一个描述时间跨度的固定短语，字面可拆解为"沿着岁月的长河向下（流淌）"，实际表示"历经多个时代/世纪"、"古往今来"、"世世代代"，强调某事物从过去延续到现在的时间持续性，带有"穿越漫长岁月"的动态感。
该短语通常作为时间状语，修饰谓语动词（多为表示"延续、传承、演变"的动词），突出动作或状态在时间长河中的延续性。
表示某事物"历经岁月被传承下来"。
Folk songs have been passed down down through the ages by oral tradition.
民歌通过口头传统世世代代流传下来。
The secret recipe was handed down down through the ages in our family.
这个秘方在我们家代代相传。
强调某事物"历经岁月依然存在"。
Some ancient customs have survived down through the ages despite modernization.
尽管现代化，一些古老习俗仍历经岁月保留了下来。
The belief in justice has persisted down through the ages in human societies.
对正义的信念在人类社会中古往今来始终存在。
说明某事物"随时代演变"。
Language has evolved down through the ages to meet new needs.
语言历经时代演变以适应新需求。
Architecture styles have changed down through the ages reflecting cultural shifts.
建筑风格随时代变迁，反映了文化的转变。
强调某现象的"普遍性"或"历史长期性"。
Down through the ages, humans have always sought meaning in life.
古往今来，人类始终在寻找生命的意义。Down through the ages, artists have used their work to comment on society.
世世代代，艺术家都用作品评论社会。throughout the ages：与"down through the ages"含义接近，但更强调"在整个时间段内"（静态覆盖），而"down through"更突出"时间的流动过程"（动态延续）。
例：Great works of literature are admired throughout the ages./down through the ages.
（文学巨著历来/历经岁月都受人敬仰。）
"down through the ages"是一个正式、文学性较强的短语，核心是强调"时间的延续性"，常用于描述"传承、延续、演变"的事物，适用于书面语或正式语境（如历史、文学、哲学论述）。