throttle down

present singular third person throttles down · participle present throttling down · participle past throttled down · past throttled down

1. To reduce power to (an engine), reduce speed

   Therefore, before declutching, throttle down your engine.

   1908 March, Popular Mechanics, page 112

   1 more example

   "You can feel it in here when it throttles down," noted Aldrin. "Better than the simulator."

   2008, W. David Woods, chapter 10, in How Apollo Flew to the Moon, Springer, published 2011, page 294

2. To suppress (an emotion)

   "Yes, Madame," Elena replied, throttling down her joy. They still might change their minds—something might happen.

   2016, Mercedes Lackey, chapter 1, in The Fairy Godmother, Harlequin

   1 more example

   She had throttled down the chagrin the loss had caused her, observant of conventions, leaving it until decay had robbed the debtor of the right to the respect that must be given those that are Lying Dead.

   1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter X, in Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, published 1943, page 165