Bring down means: To reduce.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
bring down
(transitive) To reduce.
Seen in the wild
6 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
I love this! Bring down these cults! They only exist to swindle their members!
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BlueskyMay 2026
Why it's 'no longer cool' for young Israelis to fight to bring down Netanyahu via Haaretz (Translated)
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BlueskyMay 2026
"If you can produce your own energy, you bring down your bill." Homegrown energy is the best way to insulate ourselves from global fossil fuel shocks, as has happened after the Iran conflict, says Electrify Britain C…
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BlueskyMay 2026
Taboo broken: Social Democrats join far right to bring down Romania's prime minister www.courthousenews.com/taboo-broken...
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BlueskyMay 2026
How are higher interest rates going to bring down inflation caused by higher fuel costs? #auspol
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Definitions
US
#1·Apr 26, 2026US
(transitive) To reduce.
The rebel forces are trying to bring down the president and his government.
For parents
Bring down means: To reduce.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
For ESL learners
bring down means: To reduce.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“How are higher interest rates going to bring down inflation caused by higher fuel costs? #auspol”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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US
#2·Apr 26, 2026US
(transitive) To make (a ruler or government) lose their position of power.
Heard in the wild
“I love this! Bring down these cults! They only exist to swindle their members!”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Why it's 'no longer cool' for young Israelis to fight to bring down Netanyahu via Haaretz (Translated)”
— Bluesky· May 2026“"If you can produce your own energy, you bring down your bill." Homegrown energy is the best way to insulate ourselves from global fossil fuel shocks, as has happened after the Iran conflict, says Electrify Britain CEO Camilla Born on GB News.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Taboo broken: Social Democrats join far right to bring down Romania's prime minister www.courthousenews.com/taboo-broken...”
— Bluesky· May 2026“President Trump said he’d bring down costs and wouldn’t start any foreign wars. Well, Americans have now spent over $25 billion on his illegal war in Iran, and gas prices are reaching an all time high. This is not what the American people were promised.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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US
#3·Apr 26, 2026US
(transitive) To humble.
The latest budget reforms are intended to bring down the level of inflation.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "bring down" (B)
brillo padbrimstoneBrindianbring-and-braaibring-and-buybring centrebring itbring offbring onbring one's own hide to marketbring outbring to a boil
Browse all slang words starting with B.