shrink her

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shrink her" can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to describe someone making an item of clothing smaller, for example, "I had to shrink her dress in order for it to fit her properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

For caustic wit, nothing tops the tone-deaf environmental activist exhorting Dellarobia to shrink her family's carbon footprint: "Fly less".

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Balster levitates Ms. Balster, dressed like a Christmas elf, and even appears to shrink her body.

The New York Times

The new Ms Marvel will be a shape-shifter, able to grow or shrink her limbs and take on other forms.

Independent

The intimacy Wynonna established with both her audience and her sometimes banal material, did not shrink her presence in the least.

The New York Times - Arts

The rest of the time she acts as a sort of occupational shrink, her classes a refuge for frazzled New Yorkers.

The New York Times

Trudi, who hasn't had any in years, believes she must shrink her thighs before getting back into bed with a man.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Murder had shrunk her.

The New York Times

That doesn't mean she is shrinking her own expectations.

The New York Times

The cat's mouth was open, her gums shrunk, her teeth exposed, her tan torso gutted.

The New Yorker

Dr. Scheinin explained that the disease had shrunk her lung capacity by nearly half.

The New York Times

Because radiation tends to shrink the tissue, her surgeon at the University of Chicago had molded a slightly larger breast so that when it shrank, her breasts would appear symmetrical.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shrink her" in the context of physical attributes, consider the potential sensitivity of the topic. Ensure your writing is respectful and avoids perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Common error

Avoid using "shrink her" when a more precise verb would be appropriate. For example, instead of "shrink her responsibilities", consider "delegate her responsibilities" or "reduce her workload".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shrink her" functions as a transitive verb phrase, where "shrink" is the verb and "her" is the object. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It describes the action of making something belonging to or related to a female smaller.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shrink her" is a grammatically sound and relatively common construction used to describe the act of reducing something associated with a female individual. According to Ludwig, the phrase is acceptable and commonly used. It is most often found in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral level of formality. While versatile, it's important to consider the specific nuance desired and whether a more precise verb might be more appropriate. Consider factors like target audience or the emotional context when employing the phrase, as it can have unintentional negative connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make her smaller

Directly refers to a reduction in physical size.

diminish her

Focuses on reducing her importance or influence.

reduce her

Emphasizes a decrease in size, amount, or intensity.

minimize her

Highlights reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

lessen her

Similar to 'diminish', but can also apply to physical size or quantity.

contract her

Suggests a tightening or shrinking of something belonging to her.

cut her back

Focuses on a reduction in resources, staff, or budget related to her.

compress her

Implies squeezing something belonging to her to make it smaller.

downsize her

Implies a reduction in the scale or scope of something she controls.

abbreviate her

Used when shortening something related to her.

FAQs

How can I use "shrink her" in a sentence?

You can use "shrink her" to describe reducing someone's physical size, influence, or belongings, as in "The modeling agency wanted to shrink her hip size" or "The company decided to shrink her responsibilities after the merger".

What are some alternatives to using "shrink her"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "shrink her" include "diminish her", "reduce her", "lessen her", or "minimize her".

Is it grammatically correct to say "shrink her"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "shrink her", as it follows the standard verb-pronoun order in English.

What is the difference between "shrink her" and "shrinking her"?

"Shrink her" is an imperative or infinitive form, suggesting an action to be taken, while ""shrinking her"" is a continuous tense, describing an ongoing process.