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

Plus, after vowing to cut down on turnovers, Maiava had only thrown two interceptions over those six games, showcasing a much better grasp of the game and Riley’s offense.

From Los Angeles Times

If Mr Strahl can't land a holiday job, he plans to cut down on holiday gifts and hold off on some car repairs.

From BBC

To address some concerns, Waymo officials pointed to mitigation efforts, like using vegetation around the lots to cut down on light and noise.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe you can’t splurge on shopping trips, but can also cut down on subscription services or cable TV.

From MarketWatch

It’s a place where she’s allowed to transmit herself to a curious audience without being cut down in the moment, a platform to become larger than life.

From Salon