We need to winnow down the list of candidates to three people.
winnow down
idiomTo reduce the number of candidates for something by judging their quality and rejecting some.
The committee spent all afternoon reviewing applications to winnow down the pool of applicants for the final interview stage.
After evaluating the vast array of proposals, the board sought to winnow down the options to those that best aligned with their long-term strategic objectives.
Last updated April 17, 2026