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

Meantime, the U.S. needs a more diverse arsenal that can bring down cheap missiles and drones without using an interceptor that works beautifully but by public estimates is $4 million a pop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

That soothed fears the Federal Reserve could hike interest rates soon to bring down inflation, and fuelled a healthy bounce across Asia, led by Seoul.

From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026

But in May last year she thought her world was falling apart when Dáibhin woke up with a temperature she couldn't bring down.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Domestic supply needs to increase to bring down prices.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

But a thorough look at the data reveals that the graying of America did nothing to bring down crime in the 1990s.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt