CUT DOWN

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