slash down

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase "slash down" is correct and can be used in written English.
It generally means to reduce or decrease something quickly or significantly. For example, "In order to reduce its budget, the company slashed down its marketing staff by half."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

These particular Republicans see themselves as revolutionaries determined to slash down big government.

The Economist

The Roman, by himself with his sword, can neither slash down nor break through the ten spears that all at once press against him.

Yale University

A three-storey "road-builder" on caterpillar tracks would be "capable of producing from within itself one mile of four-lane elevated superhighway every hour", preceded by tree-clearing machines, equipped with laser-beams to slash down anything in their path.

The Guardian - Arts

As their arm is extended, bring your knife over their forearm, point down, and slash down with your blade at the wrist, attempting to get them to drop the knife.

WikiHow

The campaign places hero Eren Jaeger and allies against the titans and, in a refreshing change to Omega Force's usual Dynasty Warriors model, you won't slash down armies of hundreds; instead you take on the titans with targeted, considered strikes.

The Guardian - Tech

Here, her take on a smoking with an asymmetric collar and a slinky slash down the back.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The harpoon flew over our heads – the line from the harpoon slashed down on the water right beside us, just nearly missed us.

The Guardian

The full 1970s cleavage is what I'm talking about here, with dresses and tops slashed down to a lady's navel like bras were never invented.

The Guardian - Film

Everything in the flower beds had overgrown and died, and now the silky seed heads and swollen blackened pods, slashed down by wind and rain, lay dissolving into the earth.

The New Yorker

And when, around midday on Tuesday, the rain slashed down and a chill wind swept over the area, it was difficult to see where even to start the monumental task of clearing up, let alone of re-constructing.

BBC

If I recall correctly, it got slashed down to the bones.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slash down" to convey a sense of urgency or aggression in reducing something, such as costs or prices. For a more neutral tone, consider alternatives like "reduce" or "decrease".

Common error

Avoid using "slash down" in highly formal or professional documents where a more neutral or sophisticated vocabulary is expected. Opt for words like "decrease dramatically" or "significantly reduce" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "slash down" functions primarily as a verb indicating a sharp or drastic reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "slash down" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a sharp reduction. Ludwig confirms that it is used across news media, academic writing, and even in wikis. While predominantly neutral, it leans toward informality and should be used judiciously in formal business or scientific contexts. When aiming for utmost formality, opting for alternatives like "significantly reduce" may be preferable. The phrase is frequently found in contexts such as News & Media and Wiki, with its function primarily serving to emphasize a quick and forceful reduction of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cut down

This alternative is more general and can refer to reducing something in size or amount.

reduce sharply

This alternative specifies a quick and significant reduction.

decrease rapidly

This alternative emphasizes the speed of the reduction.

lower drastically

This alternative stresses the large extent of the decrease.

mark down

This alternative is typically used in a business context to indicate a price reduction.

hack down

Implies forceful or violent cutting or reduction.

chop down

Suggests a rough or unsophisticated method of reduction.

trim down

Suggests a more precise and controlled reduction.

pare down

Implies reducing something to its essential elements.

bring down

This alternative focuses on the act of lowering something.

FAQs

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

You can use "slash down" to indicate a significant and rapid reduction. For example, "The company decided to "slash down" its marketing budget to cut costs."

What are some alternatives to "slash down"?

Alternatives include "cut down", "reduce sharply", or "decrease rapidly" depending on the desired nuance.

Is it appropriate to use "slash down" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "slash down" can sound informal or aggressive. In formal contexts, consider more neutral alternatives like "significantly reduce" or "substantially decrease".

What's the difference between "slash down" and "cut down"?

"Slash down" often implies a more drastic and sudden reduction compared to the more general term "cut down". "Slash down" conveys a sense of urgency and force.