cut down

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

cut down (third-person singular simple present cuts down, present participle cutting down, simple past and past participle cut down)

1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see cut,‎ down.
2. (transitive) To bring down by cutting.

   They want to cut down several trees to make room for the parking lot.

3. (idiomatic, transitive) To insult, to belittle.
4. (idiomatic) To reduce the amount of something.

   He wants to cut down on extra steps.

   Please don't put the candy jar right next to my desk. I'm trying to cut down on sugar.

5. (idiomatic, dated) To slay, often in great numbers.

• In all senses, the object may appear before or after the particle. If it is a pronoun, it MUST precede the particle.

• cut up