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

It is not meant to replace humans and cannot bring down Japan's suicide rate -- the highest in the G7 -- alone, she stressed.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Adjustable-rate mortgages have also been an attractive option for some homeowners over the last few years, because they offer lower rates for a certain period to bring down the monthly mortgage payment.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

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

Tesco could sell its European operations "in a move that would bring down the curtain on a three-decade attempt" to build a global empire for the UK's biggest supermarket, the Financial Times reports.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

I was hoping that by spring I might be able to bring down some bigger game.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins