bring down

To make a number, price, or amount smaller.

• We need to bring down costs.
• The medicine brought her temperature down.
• Can better insulation bring down our heating bills?

How to use it: bring something down to an amount (We brought the monthly bill down to fifty pounds.)

Similar words: reduce, lower, cut

Opposites: raise, increase

Common phrases: bring down prices, bring costs down

To cause a leader or government to lose power.

• The protests brought down the ruler.
• A single scandal could bring down the government.
• They hoped to bring the president down through peaceful protests.

How to use it: bring down someone/something (The corruption scandal brought down the government.)

Similar words: overthrow, topple, oust

Common phrases: bring down governments, bring someone down

To make someone feel sad or less hopeful.

• This sad music brings me down.
• The bad news brought her down.
• Do his negative comments always bring you down?

How to use it: bring someone down (His constant complaints really bring me down.)

Similar words: depress, sadden, discourage

Opposites: cheer up

Common phrases: bring someone down, bring me down

To carry someone or something from a higher place to a lower one.

• Please bring down my bag.
• She brought the boxes down from the attic.
• Can you bring the baby down for breakfast?

How to use it: bring something down from somewhere (Could you bring the blankets down from the bedroom?)

Similar words: carry down, take down

Opposites: take up

Common phrases: bring down boxes, bring something down

To make something fall to the ground, often by shooting it.

• The hunter brought down a bird.
• A missile brought the helicopter down.
• The storm could bring down those damaged trees.

How to use it: bring something down with something (The soldiers brought down the drone with a missile.)

Similar words: down, knock down, shoot down

Common phrases: bring down aircraft, bring something down

To receive a sentence requiring you to spend time in prison.

• He brought down five years.
• She brought down a long stretch for fraud.
• How much time did he bring down after the trial?

How to use it: bring down a prison term (He brought down ten years for armed robbery.)

Similar words: get, receive

Common phrases: bring down time, bring down five years