boil down

If something does this, its main point or cause is a particular thing.

• It boils down to money.
• Their argument boiled down to a lack of trust.
• Does the choice really boil down to price?

How to use it: boil down to something (The disagreement boils down to money.); boil down to doing something (Success boils down to practising every day.)

Similar words: come down to, amount to

Common phrases: boil down to money, boil down to trust

To make information shorter by keeping only its main points.

• Boil down your answer to two sentences.
• She boiled the long report down to three main points.
• Can we boil this message down without losing anything important?

How to use it: boil something down to something (Can you boil the report down to one page?)

Similar words: summarize, condense, simplify

Opposites: expand

Common phrases: boil down something, boil down reports

To make a liquid smaller in amount by heating it until some becomes steam.

• Boil down the sauce before serving.
• The stock boiled down to a thick liquid.
• She boiled the juice down to make syrup.

How to use it: boil something down (Boil the stock down until it tastes stronger.); boil down to something (The liquid boiled down to half its original volume.)

Similar words: reduce, concentrate

Opposites: dilute

Common phrases: boil down stock, boil down sauce