whittle down to size

present singular third person whittles down to size · participle present whittling down to size · participle past whittled down to size · past whittled down to size

1. Synonym of cut down to size.

   She seldom suffered fools. With one withering glance, she could whittle my father, who was a big man, down to size.

   2012, Sonny Collins, Anasazi Dreams: In Search of Coyote People, page 75

   2 more examples

   If he starts playing the big, tough hombre on the southside, those boys are just liable to whittle him down to size."

   1999, Matt Braun, El Paso, page 14

   And also, they're scared that the girls are going to realize what a hottie you are (which they will, if you ever talk to 'em), so they're trying to whittle you down to size before you steal all the women.

   2014, Peggy Nicholson, The Baby Bargain

   Synonyms: cut down to size