trim down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trim down" is correct and widely used in written and spoken English.
It is used to describe when a person or thing is made smaller or more efficient by cutting out nonessential parts. For example, "The company decided to trim down its workforce in order to become more efficient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or trim down some of the movement and stick to a radio play staging?

The New York Times

The only real polishing we needed to do before publication was to trim down a few overly long descriptions".

The Guardian - Books

From the 1960s, it became common practice to trim down an enlarged clitoris, and to fashion a malformed penis into a vagina.

Independent

The group will trim down to four performers instead of its usual six or seven to present its amalgam of black and Jewish music.

The New York Times

When riders and drivers can easily find each other, we're able to trim down wait times, which is a win for everyone.

Independent

In the book "Too Much Junk Food" the Bears trim down enough to run a three-mile race, but they don't win; here they earn a trophy.

The New York Times

DSM targets to improve appliance consumption, trim down utilization, while maintaining an equivalent level of service and pleasure [10].

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

From Tijani (1994), the high sodium makes the soil hard which directly affects to trim down the permeability of soil.

Applied Water Science

Our goal is to "trim down" the above constant set-valued function to a singleton-valued function in (Omega ).

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Bessie would trim down to the few things it did best.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Indeed, the PARCC trim-down did not happen quickly- but it has happened- and it might not even be finished.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for conciseness, use "trim down" to denote making something smaller or more efficient by removing unnecessary parts.

Common error

Avoid using "trim down" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more formal synonyms like "reduce" or "decrease" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "trim down" functions primarily as a verb indicating the action of reducing or lessening something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used. Examples show it applied to reducing budgets, weight, or the size of a group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

25%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "trim down" is a common and versatile expression used to describe the act of reducing or streamlining something. As Ludwig AI points out, it enjoys widespread use in different contexts, from news reports to how-to guides. While grammatically sound, it's best to reserve it for neutral to informal settings, opting for more formal synonyms like "reduce" or "decrease" in academic or professional writing. Remember to consider your audience and the specific context when deciding whether "trim down" is the most appropriate choice. You can consider synonyms like "reduce", "cut back", and "scale down", depending on the message you intend to send.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce

Implies lessening in size, amount, or degree.

cut back

Suggests a decrease in spending, production, or consumption.

scale down

Refers to reducing the size or extent of something.

pare back

Similar to cut back, but emphasizes removing unnecessary elements.

slim down

Often used in the context of weight loss or making something more streamlined.

streamline

Focuses on improving efficiency by removing unnecessary steps or elements.

downsize

Often used in a business context to describe reducing the size of a company or workforce.

condense

Means to make something more compact or concise.

abbreviate

Implies shortening a word, phrase, or text.

curtail

Suggests imposing a restriction or reduction on something.

FAQs

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

You can use "trim down" to describe reducing the size, amount, or length of something. For example, "The company decided to "trim down" its budget."

What's a synonym for "trim down"?

Synonyms for "trim down" include "reduce", "cut back", and "scale down".

Is "trim down" formal or informal?

"Trim down" is generally considered a neutral to informal phrasal verb. In formal contexts, consider using "decrease" or "lessen" instead.

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

"Trim down" often refers to making something smaller or more efficient by removing unnecessary parts, while "cut down" generally means to reduce the amount of something. Though they can be interchangeable, "trim down" implies a more precise or refined reduction.