bring down

USAGE SUMMARY

"bring down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a reduction in something or the act of lowering something, or to cause someone or something to become less successful, powerful, or important. For example: "The new fiscal policy will bring down inflation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He's tough to bring down.

The New York Times - Sports

They bring down crime.

The New York Times

Bisphosphonates bring down levels of that enzyme.

The New York Times - Health

Could they bring down the Islamic regime?

The Economist

More liberalisation would, moreover, bring down prices.

The Economist

"But bring down the price, please".

The New York Times

He's hard to bring down.

The New York Times - Sports

Or bring down a government.

The Guardian - Opinion

Do greener cars bring down carbon emissions?

The Guardian

They want to bring down the internet.

The Guardian

Competition could eventually bring down prices.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bring down" to mean 'overthrow', be aware of the level of formality in your writing; consider more formal synonyms like 'depose' or 'oust' for academic or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid overusing "bring down" to describe emotional states. While it can mean 'to make someone feel sad', there are often more nuanced and descriptive alternatives like "depress", "sadden", or "discourage".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "bring down" primarily functions as a transitive verb, requiring an object. Ludwig examples show it used to describe actions that cause a reduction (e.g., prices, costs) or the downfall of something (e.g., a government, a regime). Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Science

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "bring down" is a versatile and commonly used phrase in English. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in a variety of contexts, including reducing costs, overthrowing governments, and causing objects to fall. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable. While suitable for general and news contexts, it may be necessary to use more formal synonyms in academic or scientific writing. The key is to ensure the context clearly indicates the intended meaning, whether it's reducing something tangible or causing a downfall.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce

Emphasizes lessening or decreasing something in amount or degree.

lower

Suggests a decrease in level, amount, or intensity.

decrease

Focuses on the process of becoming smaller or less.

overthrow

Implies the forceful removal of a government or authority.

topple

Suggests causing something to fall or collapse, often used metaphorically for governments or regimes.

undermine

Highlights weakening the foundation or effectiveness of something.

demolish

Implies complete destruction or ruin.

shoot down

Specifically refers to using a weapon to cause something flying to fall.

bring about the downfall

Adds emphasis to the negative consequences and failure resulting from the action.

cause to fall

A more literal and general way to describe making something descend or collapse.

FAQs

How can I use "bring down" in a sentence?

"Bring down" can be used in various contexts, such as: "The company aims to "bring down costs"", or "The scandal threatened to "bring down the government"".

What does it mean to "bring down" a flying object?

In the context of flying objects, "bring down" means to cause it to fall to the ground, often by shooting it down. For example, "The pilot managed to "bring down the enemy aircraft"".

Which is the difference between "bring down" and "put down"?

"Bring down" can mean to reduce or overthrow, while "put down" often refers to suppressing or criticizing. For instance, "They tried to "bring down inflation"", versus "He always "puts down my ideas"".

What can I say instead of "bring down"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "reduce", "lower", "overthrow", or "decrease".