Idiom Breakdown

cut down to size

INFORMAL

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Definition

To humble or humiliate, especially someone or something that is perceived as overly domineering or too proud.

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In Context

"The war was seen by the Foreign Office as a golden opportunity to undo the UN Partition Resolution and cut Israel down to size'."
"The system cut everybody down to size. I felt small and vulnerable."
"If Arthur Oliphant's aim had been to cut them down to size, it worked: photographs taken at Somerville College in 1888 show Bamba and her sister looking diffident."

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Also Said As

bring down to size
knock down to size
trim down to size
whittle down to size