grind down

grind down

1. To reduce something or cause it to become more even by grinding. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "grind" and "down." The landscaper ground the tree stump down. Can you please grind down this uneven spot in the floor?
2. To start moving more slowly, as of a machine. Don't touch the machine until it grinds down to a stop.
3. To cause someone to become weary or disillusioned, as by frequently pestering them. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "grind" and "down." You're going to grind your employees down if you question every little thing they do.
See also: down, grind
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

grind someone down

Fig. to wear someone down by constant requests; to wear someone down by constant nagging. If you think you can grind me down by bothering me all the time, you are wrong. The constant nagging ground down the employees at last.
See also: down, grind

grind something down

to make something smooth or even by grinding. Grind this down to make it smooth. Please grind down this rough spot.
See also: down, grind
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

grind down

v.
1. To cause wear on something by rubbing against it, reducing its size: The jeweler ground the opals down into beautiful egg-shaped pieces. The miller ground down the wheat for the farmers.
2. To slow down, as if through a grinding action: The machine eventually ground down to a halt.
See also: down, grind
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • back into
  • back into (someone or something)
  • angle
  • angling
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
  • spiff up
  • spiffed up
  • adapt to
References in periodicals archive
The injury-hit Cypriot then called for two medical time-outs in the fourth set but he somehow dug deep into his reserves of physical and mental energy to grind down Mackin in a match that lasted four hours and 20 minutes.
Lawn Tannis: Brave Scot fails to Mak most of; WIMBLEDON 2006
But at least Bradford maintained their winning run and gained a timely confidence boost, although it took them an hour to grind down a battling Hull side.
Rugby league: Injur y scare for Bradford; Bradford 48 Hull 24
The experience of 33-year-old Forshaw was decisive as Bradford overcame the absence of five regulars through injury, illness and suspension to grind down Widnes.
Rugby league: Forshaw two good; WIDNES.............28 BRADFORD........38
Psycho Nilsen, who dismembered and boiled the bodies of 15 victims, gets pounds 15 a week to grind down thousands of unsold copies of the Popstars album.
Sick Nilsen grinds up Hear'Say CDs in jail
inspections have managed to grind down Saddam Hussein's nuclear program and pinpoint his chemical and biological blueprints.
Jingo all the way
Some scientists have suggested that this magnetite is produced by marine invertebrates called chitons, which grind down their magnetite-containing teeth when eating algae embedded in limestone.
Marine magnetite made by bacteria
Tony McCoy aggressively set out to grind down Impek's rivals and it worked a treat.
Football: Masters shine amid mayhem
He said: "At this stage some players can just let things grind down. But not at Accies.
Football: Hamilton v Queen of South; BELL'S DIVISION ONE