bring down to size

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

1. Synonym of cut down to size.

   One could almost think that this was a case of arson—where some of the locals felt that shopkeepers were earning too much money and needed to be brought down to size!

   2012, James Marsh, Water Covers All Sins, page 57

   2 more examples

   It's part of his control-freak sickness, his let's-play-get-the-girl. Let's tell her she's great, beautiful, sexy, fun ... then let's bring her down to size. All the way down until she's somewhere way beneath him, leaving Marcus on top and in a very superior position.

   2005, Elizabeth Adler, Invitation to Provence

   For the comic text there is obviously much to enjoy and celebrate in bringing the male predator down to size even though this is achieved precisely by exaggerating his considerable size.

   2012, Andrew Horton, Joanna E. Rapf, A Companion to Film Comedy, page 187

   Synonyms: cut down to size