lower the tone - if something lowers the tone of a place, it makes it less suitable for people of a high social class, and if something lowers the tone of a conversation or a piece of writing, it makes it less polite or of a lower quality.

A preface from a local clergyman had raised the moral tone of the book.

• have your pick of
• have your pick of something
• have your share of
• have your share of something
• have your sights set on
• have your sights set on doing something
• have your sights set on something
• have your wicked way with
• have your wicked way with someone
• have your wits about
• have your wits about you
• have your work cut out
• have your work cut out for
• have your work cut out for you
• head and shoulders above ...
• head and shoulders above
• head and shoulders above someone
• head and shoulders above something
• head and shoulders above the others
• head and shoulders above [the others/the rest etc.]
• head and shoulders above the rest
• bad-mouth
• bad-mouth someone
• bad-mouth something
• bad workman blames his tools.