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Phrase(s): cut someone down (to size) [and] take someone down (to size)
Fig. to make a person humble; to put one in one’s place. • John’s critical remarks really cut me down to size. • Jane is too conceited. I think her new boss will take her down to size., Phrase(s): cut down (on something)
to reduce the amount of something or of doing something; to use or buy less of something. • You will have to cut down on the time it takes you to get ready in the morning. • The doctor told him to cut down on his drinking., Phrase(s): cut something down
1. Lit. to chop something down; to saw or cut at something until it is felled. • Stop cutting the banners down! • Don’t cut down that tree! 2. Fig. to destroy someone’s argument; to destroy someone’s position or standing. • The lawyer cut the testimony down quickly. • The lawyer cut down the witness’s story. 3. to reduce the price of something. • They cut the prices down to sell the goods off quickly. • I wish they would cut down the prices in this store., Phrase(s): cut someone down
to kill someone with a weapon, such as a sword, or with gunfire, etc. • The bandits cut the bystanders down and fled. • The gunman cut down an innocent pedestrian.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Kill, as in The troops were cut down one by one as they crossed the field. [Early 1800s] 2. Also, cut down on. Reduce, decrease, as in I want to cut down my caffeine intake, or We have to cut down on our expenses. [Mid-1800s] 3. cut down to size;knock down to size. Reduce the self-importance of, humble, as in He's so arrogant? I wish someone would cut him down to size, or She really got knocked down to size when her class ranking slipped. [Early 1900s]
American Heritage Idioms