to cut off the outer coating, layer, or part of.
to remove (an outer coating, layer, or part) by cutting (often followed by off oraway ).
to reduce or remove by or as by cutting; diminish or decrease gradually (often followed bydown ).
to pare down one's expenses.
to peel or cut (the outer layer) from (something)
to cut the edges from (the nails); trim
to decrease bit by bit
See peel 1.
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English paren, from Middle French parer, “to make ready, trim” from Latin parāre ”to prepare, make ready“; see origin at prepare
To pare is to trim — like when you pare branches on a tree or pare down your expenses to save money. Pare comes from the Latin word parare, meaning "to prepare." Think of peeling potatoes, which you might do with a paring knife, or paring your nails so you'll make a neat appearance. In each case, you are trimming something gradually. If you pare down your expectations, you might be pleasantly surprised.
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If this is only about a better division of labor with Europe, why pare back strategic bombers, a unique American capability?
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Surging U.S. seaborne oil exports and China’s willingness to pare back on its own seaborne imports have also helped shield the world from higher prices.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
If regulators approve the deal, Paramount chief David Ellison is widely expected to embark on a painful round of cost-cutting to pare down the load.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
The faults have now been fixed, bringing some relief to the state-owned ferry firm which since last week has been forced to pare back services as it faces an "unprecedented" shortage of ships.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
So when school administrators pare down curriculums and teachers teach to the test, it is usually not out of ignorance—but is a matter of professional and financial survival.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
