mow down

mow down (third-person singular simple present mows down, present participle mowing down, simple past and past participle mowed down)

1. (transitive) To cut down, especially in large numbers.
   • 2006 Sept. 15, "Roses ‘n’ Razzies," gazettetimes.com (Oregon, USA) (retrieved 1 Apr 2011):

     Our forecast calls for a return of summery weather in the 80s this weekend, so we actually can get out and mow down those weeds without having to inhale clouds of dust.

2. (transitive, figuratively, by extension) To kill or slaughter, or to injure by knocking down, especially in large numbers and in a ruthless manner.
   • 1952 Oct. 27, "War in Korea: Bloodshed in the Hills" Time:

     [T]heir machine-gunners mowed down wave after wave of counterattacking Chinese.