bring down

British  

verb

1. to cause to fall

   the fighter aircraft brought the enemy down

   the ministers agreed to bring down the price of oil

2. slang (usually passive) to cause to be elated and then suddenly depressed, as from using drugs

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bring down Idioms  

1. Cause to fall, collapse, or die. For example, The pilot won a medal for bringing down enemy aircraft , or The bill's defeat was sure to bring down the party . [c. 1300]

2. Cause a punishment or judgment, as in The bomb threats brought down the public's wrath on the terrorists [Mid-1600s]

3. Reduce, lower, as in I won't buy it till they bring down the price , or He refused to bring himself down to their level . This usage may be literal, as in the first example, or figurative, as in the second. [First half of 1500s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bring down

Xcimer’s fusion design would build on the national lab’s work and try to bring down costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

"It came to power very much on a programme to bring down crime and energy prices. And crime and petrol prices have come down, so those issues no longer top voters' agendas," Teorell said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

Ukraine uses warplanes, anti-aircraft guns and shoulder-launched missiles to try to bring down the jet-powered drones.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Those secular pressures explain why the administration’s efforts to bring down rates have failed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

After the first few blasts failed to bring down the structures, Hildreth figured out precisely how much powder was needed.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy