reduce (one) to (something)
reduce (one) to (something)
To bring one to a lesser or worse state than they are typically in. Poverty reduced him to homelessness for a brief period of time.
See also: reduce
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
reduce to
v.
1. To decrease something to some level: The drought reduced the stream to a trickle.
2. To bring someone to some humbler, weaker, difficult, or forced state or condition: The illness had reduced them almost to emaciation. The sight of her mother reduced her to tears. The army reduced him from a command post to a desk job.
3. To bring someone to such a humble, weak, or desperate state or condition that he or she does something drastic: The Depression reduced many to begging on the street.
4. To damage or destroy something, leaving it in some lesser state: The blaze reduced the warehouse to ashes.
5. To make something shorter and simpler; summarize something: Their entire business philosophy can be reduced to "The customer is always right."
See also: reduce
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- any (one) worth (one's) salt
- keel over
- young man
- walk it off
- walk off
- lip service, to give/pay
- pay lip service
- get real
- Get real!
- cause raised eyebrows