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to die down

to die down

46 2.7
To become less strong or loud over time
  • phrasal verb
  • /daɪ daʊn/
translation icon : disminuir
  • After the furor died down, Cold Fusion research continued in a number of places.
  • excitement dies down
  • die down quickly

The nastiness dies down and you learn to rise above.

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Examples

  • The noise from the construction site will finally die down after the workers leave for the day.

  • I waited until the hum of voices had died down, then pointed to the side door.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Do you think the race thing is going to die down or do you think it's going to run and run?

  • Well, the talk will die down.

  • Maybe we should chill out till things die down.

  • Finally, after the buzz among the audience had died down, he continued.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The war presumably is going to die down to at least some extent.

  • Seriously, when the festivities die down and you have a few days to collect yourself, think about it.

  • He promises negotiations and the protest died down for now.

  • The contentiousness sparked by the report has scarcely died down in the years since it was published.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

to go down
vsto die down
321 1.9

To become less in amount, size, or value

is more neutral everyday language rather than focusing on gradual fading
to dwindle
vsto die down
72 5.1

To become smaller or less in number over time

focuses on loss of size or number rather than sound or force
to fade away
vsto die down
69 3.0

To become weaker and then disappear over time

focuses on reducing strength rather than implying full disappearance
to ease up
vsto die down
57 3.7

To make something less strong or strict

frequently implies an agent reducing pressure rather than natural weakening
to let up
vsto die down
54 3.8

To become less strong, especially for bad weather, pain, or pressure

is used more broadly for any gradual decrease in force or intensity
to fall off
vsto die down
49 2.6

Become less in number, amount, or quality

is more about measurable drops than slow softening of sound or force
to subside
vsto die down
47 4.8

Become less strong, as with pain, noise, or excitement

is more informal and general for everyday decreases in strength
to quiet down
vsto die down
  • Informal
42 2.0

Make people or things less noisy and less active

is used more generally for reducing strength beyond just noise
to wind down
vsto die down
  • Informal
39 3.7

To relax after a busy or stressful time and slowly come to an end

means a gradual decrease but focuses on finishing rather than softening intensity
to recede
vsto die down
29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

emphasizes moving away or retreat, not just a weakening of force
to abate
vsto die down
23 6.8

To become less strong or severe and to make something do the same

is more informal and common for everyday decreases in force or activity
to drop off
vsto die down
21 3.5

To become less in number or amount

tends to mean a fall in quantity rather than a softening of force
to cool down
vsto die down
  • Informal
19 2.5

Feel less angry or excited

is general for lowering loudness or activity, not only emotions
to fall away
vsto die down
19 4.3

To become less in amount or quality

describes a decline in quantity rather than subtle weakening of force
to ease off
vsto die down
9 4.0

To become gradually less strong or severe

often describes general decrease but can be used without implying agency
to taper off
vsto die down
9 4.5

To become smaller or weaker over time until it stops

is used for gradual intensity drops without implying complete end
to die away
vsto die down
8 4.2

To become quieter and then stop

is similar but used more broadly for decreases not limited to sound
to drop away
vsto die down
2 3.3

To become less over time

focuses on level or standard drops, not specifically reduction in loudness
to dwindle away
vsto die down
1 4.6

Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains

is used for decreases in intensity without stressing complete disappearance
to dwindle down
vsto die down
1 5.1

To become slowly smaller or less until almost nothing remains

is used for gradual intensity drops rather than long small reductions

Antonyms

1.0

To make something larger or more in number

44 4.1

To make something larger, stronger, or more important

How Strong

to ease off
9 4.0
to diminish
201 3.7
to die down
46 2.7
stop
310 1.0

Surface Forms

die down infinitive
died down past
died down past participle
dying down present participle
dies down third person singular

Morphology

die + down

The sense 'to become less strong' can be derived by combining a metaphorical use of 'die' (to fade/cease) with 'down' indicating reduction, so the compositional logic is present. However, because many B1 learners first know 'die' in the literal sense ('to stop living') and the metaphorical extension to decrease may not be fully predictable without prior exposure, the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Die down comes from a simple image of a fire or storm slowly losing power: the flames or wind seem to die and fall down as they get smaller and quieter, so the phrase now means 'to become less strong or loud'.