cut down

British  

verb

1. (tr) to fell

2. to reduce or make a reduction (in)

   to cut down on drink

3. (tr) to remake (an old garment) in order to make a smaller one

4. (tr) to kill

   he was cut down in battle

5. to reduce in importance or decrease the conceit of

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cut down Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

It added that the version of the documentary it received "did not include the edit in question" as the international version had been "cut down in a number of places for time".

From BBC

Even if you back them and they actually cut down the nets, you would share the bracket points with an outsize percentage of your pool.

From The Wall Street Journal

The tree, which had stood in a dip along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland since the 1800s, was cut down by two men from Cumbria in September 2023.

From BBC

The Philippines has also started a four-day work week for its government to help cut down on energy use.

From BBC

The only exception came when Reaves drove in the lane, wrapped a pass around his back and found Ayton cutting down the lane for a vicious two-handed dunk.

From Los Angeles Times