thin down

Related to thin down: stick out, push through, wreak havoc

thin down

1. To become slimmer or more slender. Wow, Tom really thinned down over the summer—he looks great! Their new phone model is thinned down, with a sleek, smooth design.
2. To make someone or something slimmer or more slender. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "thin" and "down." These extreme diets are aimed at thinning you down as quickly as possible, but they aren't healthy or sustainable for the long term. No matter how much I diet or exercise, I just can't seem to thin my thighs down.
3. To make something smaller. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "thin" and "down." They are thinning down security for the event, citing budgetary restrictions. The board of directors has been thinning our budget down more and more in recent years.
4. To dilute something; to make something less concentrated. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "thin" and "down." Try thinning the sauce down with a little bit of low-fat yoghurt. I swear the bartender is thinning down our drinks, because this tastes like nothing but soda.
5. To reduce the number of people or things some group or population. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "thin" and "down." Hunters have been hired to thin down the herds of deer roaming the state. The horrible outbreak thinned the country's population down by nearly half in the space of just 5 years.
See also: down, thin
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

thin someone down

to make someone thinner or slimmer. What you need to thin you down is less, not more. The hospital dietitian tried to thin down the obese man.
See also: down, thin

thin something down

to dilute a fluid. You should thin this down with a little water. Try to thin down this paint a little.
See also: down, thin

thin down

to become thinner or slimmer. He stopped eating desserts and fatty foods so he could thin down. I have to thin down so I can get into my winter coat.
See also: down, thin
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

thin down

v.
1. To make someone or something thin or thinner: The painter thinned down the paint with turpentine. The designers thinned the shape of the boat down so that it could go faster.
2. To become thin or thinner: I thinned down over the summer, and now my pants are too big.
See also: down, thin
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • come a gutser
  • be down to (one)
  • be down to somebody/something
  • be down to something
  • be down to (do something)
  • come down in buckets
  • bounce up and down
  • chuck (something) down
  • chuck it down
  • close down and shut down
References in periodicals archive
California [United States], January 12 ( ANI ): SpaceX is set to thin down its team by laying off 10 percent of the workforce as it is reeling under some financial pressure.
SpaceX to lay off 10 percent of workforce
The next time you evaluate solder pastes and open a jar with low initial viscosity, don't jump to the conclusion that it will thin down too much and make your job more difficult.
Go with the flow: paste viscosity can inform why solder performs one way in high-volume production and another under high-mix conditions
Yes, this is not a new story at St James' Park for the fans that have stuck with the club through thick and thin down the years.
Newcastle United players have done very little to prove they really care about what the fans think; As Newcastle United sink closer to the Championship we ask whether players actually care what is happening at St James' Park any more
TODAY'S match will be a real family affair for scores of Wrexham FC supporters who have avidly followed their team through thick and thin down the years.
FAMILY AFFAIR FOR WINNER SCOTT
"While the use of this land for housing is correct and valid, they need to thin down this application to reduce its impact."
Stick your new homes; Community in building revolt
FOR bigger and better blooms in the perennial border, thin down the number of shoots to half a dozen per plant of delphiniums, heleniums, lupins and phlox.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
Thin down thick greens by cutting and trimming within the plant canopy, so you can maintain a certain form and size while creating some transparency.
Keeping that intruder away
Add more water to thin down the curry sauce if required.
curry corner VISHAL GAIKWAD When [...]
There are fewer lakes than in the eastern Himalayas, but large lakes may be a growing phenomenon as glaciers thin down and tend to stagnate.
Climate Change and Water Tower of Asia (A Scientific Perspective)
We'll keep all the plants that are working well but thin down or, in some cases, ban bullies such as Chamerion angustifolium, known by us all as willowherb.
To do list
He bases this on the fact that Apple will thin down the bezel around the display, just like in the iPad Mini, and load the iPad with the software that prevents unintended touches from registering a command.
Inevitable iPad rumour update: Next 9.7-inch version may copy iPad Mini's design
" If war starts now, I am sure the attendance of this school will thin down. Many of us might die," said Majid, a student, who decided to check on the stranger while his headmaster was out of sight.
Caught in crossfire
"They've come through a huge, huge financial crisis, and they had to thin down, and they probably are not thinking about development," he said.
Developing the talent pipeline
The bank had already implemented a series of job cuts in its UAE operations in 2010, in a hurry to thin down its retail
Barclays to shift Africa HQ away from Dubai
Importantly, the walls can thin down with good control of your blood pressure and lightening the pumping load for the heart.
Good BP control may help