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Difference between Cut someone down and Cut someone down to size

admin Confusing Phrases

cut someone down—

1. (usually Passive) kill a person:

  • John F. Kennedy was cut down in the prime of life on a political trip to Texas.

2. (coll.) persuade smb. to reduce a price, charge, etc.:

  • Eventually we managed to cut him down by $30.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase cut someone short—(also: cut someone off short) interrupt a person:

  • She wanted to do a lot of reminiscing, but I cut her short.

cut someone down to size—make smb. realize that he is not so important as he thinks:

  • If everyone should be equal, then it’s time to cut some people down to size.