scale down
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle down
Meanings
Deliberately shrink a plan or operation
Why “down”? When there is less of something, it goes down. Prices, sound, heat and speed all work this way.
“They scaled down the operation last year.”
“We scaled down our holiday plans.”
Don't confuse with
Scale down means reduce in size or scope. Scale back means reduce in scope to slow expansion.
Test yourself
“They scaled down the operation last year.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
scale back
A contrast learners often mix up
Reduce in scope to slow expansion
bring down
Same down pattern: less
Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed
come down
Same down pattern: less
Drop from a high level it has been at; Move to a lower level, price or position; Have been passed down from earlier generations; Decide in favour of one side after consideration; Become ill with a particular illness; (of rain, snow or hail) fall
cool down
Same down pattern: less
Become or make less hot; Become calmer after anger or excitement; Do gentle exercise after a hard workout
count down
Same down pattern: less
Count backwards to zero before an event
cut down
Same down pattern: less
Reduce the amount of something; Fell a tree by cutting at its base; Kill or seriously injure many people quickly
die down
Same down pattern: less
Feelings or excitement gradually become calmer; Become less strong, loud or active
dress down
Same down pattern: less
Wear less formal clothes than usual
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