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Glite Dictionary
to take it down a notch

to take it down a notch

10 7.4
To act in a less loud or angry way
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
: bajar el tono
  • When tensions rose, the coach told the players to take it down a notch and work together calmly.
  • let's take it down a notch
  • just take it down a notch
  • maybe take it down a notch

Relax, Gerald Bradley, take it down a notch.

Examples

Synonyms

to turn down
vsto take it down a notch
147 2.7

Make the sound or heat from something lower, for example music

applies this reduction specifically to how a person acts or reacts
to ease up
vsto take it down a notch
59 3.7

To make something less strong or strict

targets a person becoming less intense or aggressive in conduct
to cool down
vsto take it down a notch
  • Informal
58 2.5

Feel less angry or excited

is about reducing outward aggressive behavior rather than only inner calm
to tone down
vsto take it down a notch
56 3.7

To make something less strong, for example a sound, color or feeling

aims specifically at calming down a person's aggressive behavior or stance
to dial back
vsto take it down a notch
17 4.1

Make something, like a taste, sound, or plan, less strong

focuses on lowering a person's forceful behavior or attitude
to dial down
vsto take it down a notch
13 4.1

To make a feeling, sound, or action less strong

applies this lowering specifically to a person's aggressive or extreme attitude
to tamp down
vsto take it down a notch
11 5.7

Reduce the strength of feelings or public anger

focuses more on a person intentionally easing their harsh behaviour or attitude
to de-escalate
vsto take it down a notch
8 5.6

To make a conflict or tense situation less dangerous and calmer

is used for a person's own tone or aggression rather than broad conflicts

Antonyms

to escalate
220 5.5

To become larger, more serious, or more intense

to intensify
99 4.0

Make something stronger or more intense

How Intense

to tone down
56 3.7
to take it down a notch
  • Informal
10 7.4
to calm down
  • Informal
989 1.4
to keep one's cool
  • Informal
1 3.4

Surface Forms

take it down a notch infinitive
took it down a notch past
taken it down a notch past participle
taking it down a notch present participle
takes it down a notch third person singular

Morphology

take + it + down + a + notch

The components 'take' (cause or move), 'down' (lower) and 'notch' (a small degree or step) combine to give a plausible compositional meaning of ‘lower it by a small amount,’ so a learner who knows the words can often infer the sense. However, the phrase is a colloquial, fixed exhortation and relies on a metaphorical use of 'notch' that may not be fully predictable for an average B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase take it down a notch comes from old radios and dials, where you would take the volume down by one notch to make the sound lower. So when someone says take it down a notch, they mean 'reduce your intensity' or 'be less extreme'.