cut down[verb]Synonyms:- fell, hew, level, lop
- reduce, decrease, lessen, lower
[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
cut down phrasal verb (
see also cut)
1. REDUCE to reduce the amount of something
cut something ↔ down
Installing double-glazing will cut down the noise from traffic.cut down on By getting the design right, you can cut down on accidents.2. EAT/USE LESS to eat, drink, or use less of something, especially in order to improve your health:
I’ve always smoked, but I’m trying to cut down.cut down on Cut down on fatty foods if you want to lose weight.3. TREE cut something ↔ down to cut through the main part of a tree so that it falls on the ground
4. KILL cut somebody ↔ down literary to kill or injure someone, especially in a battle:
Hundreds of men were cut down by crossbow fire.5. REDUCE LENGTH cut something ↔ down to reduce the length of something such as a piece of writing:
Your essay’s too long – it needs cutting down a little.6. cut somebody down to size to make someone realize that they are not as important, successful etc as they think they are
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲