Cut down

cut down & cuts down cutting down cut down cut down

1. cut... down p.v. When you cut down a tree, you use a saw or an axe to cut it

and make it fall to the ground.

You should cut that dead tree down before it falls on your house.

The builder was criticized for cutting down so many trees when he built the house.

2. cut... down p.v. [informal — always separated] When you cut people down to size, you do or say something to make them feel less important or less powerful.

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I'm tired of that jerk. I'm going to cut him down to size.

Hank thinks he's such a tough guy. Someone ought to cut him down to size.

3. cut down (on) p.v. When you cut down or cut down on something that you con­sume, you use it less. When you cut down or cut down on something you do, you do it less. Cut back is similar to cut down.

If you can't quit smoking, you should at least cut down.

My doctor said cutting down on fat in my diet would lower my cholesterol.

1. drop out (of) p.v. When you drop out or drop out of a school, a training course, or other program, you leave before completing it.

The program is very difficult, and about 70 percent of the students drop out.

Linda's father was very disappointed when she dropped out of college.

dropout n. A dropout is someone who has left school, usually high school or col­lege, before graduating.

Many successful people are college dropouts.