level down

level down

To remove layers from the surface of something in order to make it level or smooth. A noun or pronoun can be used between "level" and "down." The timber was a bit uneven where they had cut it with the hand saw, so I leveled it down with my power sander. They brought in a steam roller to level down the ground around the construction site before laying down the topsoil.
See also: down, level
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

level something down

to make something level or smooth. The soil is very uneven in this part of the garden. Would you please level it down? The huge earth-moving machines leveled the hill down in preparation for the building of the highway.
See also: down, level
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • level out
  • level off
  • level up
  • buzz up
  • on the level
  • raise the stakes
  • level (one's) locks
  • level one’s locks
  • level
  • on the level, to be
References in periodicals archive
Each grade is given a point score from 120 points for an A grade at A- level down to 20 for an E-grade at AS level.
Schools' exam rankings
Prices of the onboard ETC equipment range from those in the 100,000 yen level down to the 30,000-40,000 yen level depending on functions included.
22,000 car owners apply for ETC monitoring program
He must keep his shoulders parallel to the LOS, feet moving, and pad level down. Our secondary defenders, seeing the QB on the LOS, must stop their read steps and get into what we call a bounce in preparation to run support.
Team Fly: a circle drill that creates a pursuit mentality. (Football)
Rates are now at their lowest level since January 1964 after the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) took the level down to 4.5% with a quarter per cent cut.
Bank cuts interest rates for sixth time
By taking the link from the physiological level down to the molecular mechanism itself, Turek's experiment goes a step further, Pack says.
Two aspects of sleep share a master
Furthermore, if you are approximating national legislation, it is very difficult to level down to an average; some countries come up in terms of regulatory rigor while others come down.
Zeneca's growth prescription
This minimizes my fatigue and keeps my stress level down so I can enjoy eating with friends and other activities.
In the kitchen: don't let fatigue cook your goose
This challenge could have a domino effect, threatening to dismantle affirmative action efforts across the board, including labor, education and employment initiatives, from the federal level down the line to state and local municipalities.
Set back for set-asides
On the next level down, raised beds between gravel paths brim with summer annuals for cutting, as well as with berries and an assortment of vegetables.
A surprise on every level
'I was so disappointed, but you know these guys are trying to level down because probably their mindset going into this game was that UST is winless so they thought those players would just lie down,' said Pumaren.
Adamson thwarts UST, strengthens hold on third seed