to scale down
8
4.0
- phrasal verb
- /skeɪl daʊn/
:
reducir
- In the early 1980s, Bailey used the technique to scale down boomerangs to make them easier to throw and catch.
- scaled-down version
- scale down its operations
- option to scale down
I think that it will scale down as unemployment rates come down.
- I think that it will scale down as unemployment rates come down.
- And, and I'm constantly trying to scale down and refocus.
- So you can scale up and you can scale down, but you mustn't change the shape.
- So this week I thought I could probably still build a traditional solid oak farmer's table, I just need to scale it down a little bit.
- So it's so it's not practically useful, but they're then trying to scale down from this theoretical AGI to find something that that will really work.
Examples
-
The option to scale down a system protects it from the downside risks of the investment.
Academic text (1991) -
So, so please scale down your expectations.
-
Just if he had asked me, I would have advised him to scale it down and keep it simple.
Blog text (14) -
I think that it will scale down as unemployment rates come down.
-
We do however have to scale down the fabric correctly.
-
Even services like the free distribution of food and clothing had to be scaled down.
Academic text (1996) -
All furniture is scaled down to fit into this low-ceilinged space.
Fiction book (1999) -
Only when we approach the problem at its source and effectively scale down tobacco production will we succeed in decreasing tobacco consumption.
Academic text (1997) -
While Kentucky Fried Chicken was forced to considerably scale down its operations, Cargill and DuPont had to cancel or relocate their activities.
Academic text (1997) -
The company decided to scale down its workforce to save costs during the recession.
Synonyms
∞
1.6
To make something smaller in amount, size, or number
802
1.0
Make something go down in position, amount, or strength
325
2.0
To make something smaller in amount or size
201
3.7
To become less in size, importance, or value
181
2.8
Become less in amount or value
94
3.7
To press something so it takes less space
89
3.0
Make an amount or level lower
65
2.7
To make something smaller in amount or number
34
2.8
To make something smaller in amount or strength
10
5.1
To make a list or group smaller by removing items over time
9
4.4
Make something smaller by removing parts you do not need
8
4.1
Make something smaller, like a product or living space
3
3.4
To make something smaller by cutting or removing parts
1
4.3
Make something smaller or cheaper to save money
1
8.4
To make something smaller so it uses less space or time
Antonyms
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to reduce in size or amount' is directly derivable from combining 'scale' (to adjust dimensions/proportions) with 'down' (to a lower level or degree); together they transparently signal making something smaller. This verb + particle reduction pattern is common and cross-linguistically accessible, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely understand the MWE.
Etymology
Scale down comes from drawing and model-making. When you make a map or a model you use a scale to show a big thing much smaller, and the word down shows that smaller size, so scale down means to make something smaller, which is why it means 'to reduce'.