# cut down

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cut-down
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To insult, to belittle.

## Examples

- Do not cut down your friends when they make mistakes.
- The manager often tries to cut down his employees during meetings to show his own authority.
- Despite his outward charm, he frequently used sharp words to cut down those he perceived as threats to his social standing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.