ENGLISH
REFERENCE

thin the herd

idiom
Meaning

to cull, to reduce the size of a group


Examples
SIMPLE

The manager decided to thin the herd to save money.

CONTEXTUAL

The company had too many employees, so they decided to thin the herd during the annual review.

COMPLEX

In an effort to ensure the long-term survival of the species, the park rangers were forced to thin the herd of deer grazing in the valley.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    have a thin time of it

    To be in a difficult or precarious situation due to one not having enough money.

  2. 02

    herd cats

    To attempt to control the uncontrollable; to attempt to manage a great many unruly factors or people to a single end.

  3. 03

    on thin ice

    Dangerously, hazardously, delicately.

  4. 04

    out of thin air

    From nowhere or nothing; from a non-existent or unknown source.

  5. 05

    ride herd on

    To supervise.

  6. 06

    skate on thin ice

    To be (or to place oneself) in a risky, potentially dangerous or delicate situation.

  7. 07

    spread oneself thin

    To commit oneself to too many projects, so that there is little chance of completing them all satisfactorily.

  8. 08

    thick and thin

    Both good and bad times.

© 2026 English Reference