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

European cities will gain more leeway to curb short-term rentals such as Airbnb under plans to bring down housing costs in tourism hotspots that the European Union is to unveil Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

Much will depend on this upcoming inflation data, especially as Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh has recently stressed the need to bring down inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

It said it was supporting schools with new guidance to take steps to bring down costs for individual items, while "keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking families".

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Since the children were sometimes seated between adults, giving the look had its dangers—making faces at table could bring down disgrace and an early bedtime.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan