bring down

present singular third person brings down · participle present bringing down · participle past brought down · past brought down

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bring, down.

   Dad has brought down a stack of old vinyl records from the attic.

2. transitiveTo make (a ruler or government) lose their position of power.

   The rebel forces are trying to bring down the president and his government.

   Synonyms: depose, dethrone

3. transitiveTo reduce.

   The latest budget reforms are intended to bring down the level of inflation.

   1 more example

   The causes of income stagnation are varied and lack the political simplicity of calls to bring down the deficit or avert another Wall Street meltdown.

   2012 October 23, David Leonhardt, New York Times, retrieved 24 Oct 2012

   Synonyms: lessen, abase, abate, belittle, besmall, embase, cut, decrease

4. transitiveTo humble.

   Synonyms: cut down to size, depress, put someone in their place

5. transitiveTo make (something, especially something flying) fall to the ground, usually by firing a weapon of some kind.

   He brought down a pheasant with his first shot of the day.

   2 more examples

   For survival off-the-grid, one should have a gun that can bring down most animals without damaging their meat.

   Quinn raised the gun again, wondering if there was anything she could shoot that would buy her more time. Bring down the electric lines overhead? No way could she make a shot like that. Place a call and toss her cellphone at the thing? Not enough time. She substituted the strobe light again, and the ghostlem swatted it out of her hand. She spun, catching herself on the asphalt with stinging fingers, and waited to be jellified from behind.

   2023 June 25, HarryBlank, “Transposthumousism”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 20 Feb 2025

   Synonyms: shoot down

6. transitivehobbiesTo cause (an opponent) to fall after a tackle.

   Kalinic later saw red for a rash tackle on Paul Scharner before Gabriel Tamas was dismissed for bringing down Diouf.

   2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC

   Synonyms: harsh one's mellow

7. transitiveTo make (someone) feel bad emotionally.

   The news of his death brought her down.

   2 more examples

   I went to a shrink, to analyze my dreams / He said it's lack of sex that's bringing me down

   1994, Green Day, “Basket Case”

   Nothing in this world could / Ever bring them down / Yeah, they're invincible / And she's just in the background

   2013 May 31, Echosmith, Jeffery David, and Jesiah Dzwonek, “Cool Kids”, in Talking Dreams, performed by Echosmith

   Synonyms: get down, put out, aggrieve, attrist, begloom, begrieve, besorrow, grieve

8. To cause to fall down, e.g. in an accident.

   From the evidence of witnesses and of the recorded passing times, including the time at which the circuit breakers were tripped when the wires were brought down, the train was travelling at a speed of not less than 70 m.p.h.

   1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652

9. transitiveTo take (someone) to prison.

   Synonyms: lag off

10. slangAfrican-American VernacularTo receive a prison sentence.

    She brought down a five-year bid.

11. slangtransitiveAfrican-American VernacularTo incite excitement in (a place or crowd).

    He brought down the club.

    Synonyms: animate, awaken, electrify, enflame, enkindle, enthrill, exagitate, excite

12. transitiveTo calm down (someone).

    Synonyms: cool down, hose down, allay, ameliorate, appease, assuage, becalm, gentle

13. transitiveTo stop the effects of intoxication in (someone).