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bring down

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bring someone down

 

1. Lit. to assist or accompany someone from a higher place to a lower place. Please bring your friends down so I can meet them. She brought down her cousin, who had been taking a nap upstairs. Aunt Mattie was brought down for supper.

2. Fig. to bring someone to a place for a visit. Let's bring Tom and Terri down for a visit this weekend. We brought down Tom just last month. They were brought down at our expense for a weekend visit.

3. Fig. to restore someone to a normal mood or attitude. (After a period of elation or, perhaps, drug use.) The bad news brought me down quickly. I was afraid that the sudden change of plans would bring down the entire group.

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bring something down

 

1. Lit. to move something from a higher place to a lower place. Bring that box down, please. And while you're up there, please bring down the box marked "winter clothing."

2. to lower something, such as prices, profits, taxes, etc. The governor pledged to bring taxes down. I hope they bring down taxes.

3. Fig. to defeat or overcome something, such as an enemy, a government, etc. The events of the last week will probably bring the government down. The scandal will bring down the government, I hope.

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bring down somebody/something

also bring somebody/something down

to remove a person or a government from power The demonstrations reminded me of the troubles that brought down the president. The students were not just asking for reforms, they wanted to bring down the government.

See also: bring, down

bring something down

also bring down something

1. to reduce something Drugs can bring your blood pressure down.

2. to cause something to fail Dozens of Web sites were brought down by these software programs.

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bring something down (on somebody)

also bring down something (on somebody)

to cause something to have influence or power over someone Why would you bring down that kind of attention if you were trying not to be noticed? We don't bring violence down on people. People bring it down on themselves.

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bring down

1. Cause to fall, collapse, or die. For example, The pilot won a medal for bringing down enemy aircraft, or The bill's defeat was sure to bring down the party. [c. 1300]

2. Cause a punishment or judgment, as in The bomb threats brought down the public's wrath on the terrorists [Mid-1600s]

3. Reduce, lower, as in I won't buy it till they bring down the price, or He refused to bring himself down to their level. This usage may be literal, as in the first example, or figurative, as in the second. [First half of 1500s]

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bring down

v.

1. To move something or someone from a higher to a lower position: He brought down the plates from the top shelf. She brought the trunk down from the attic.

2. To cause something to fall or collapse: The explosives went off and brought down the old building. That tower is so strong that no wind could bring it down.

3. To reduce the amount or level of something: I opened the window to bring down the temperature in my room. Can you bring the volume of the stereo down a bit?

4. To remove a ruler or government from a position of power: The rebels intend to bring down the government. A strong opposition to the leaders could bring them down. The president was brought down by the scandal.

5. Slang To depress or discourage someone: The argument I had with my friends really brought me down.

See also: bring, down