wind down

wind down

1. To slow and near an ending. Our field hockey practice usually winds down with some gentle stretches.
2. To cause something to slow and near an ending. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "wind" and "down." We'll wind down our practice with some gentle stretches.
See also: down, wind
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wind something down

to slow something down; to make something less hectic. Let's wind this party down and try to get people to go home. It's really late. We tried to wind down the party, but it kept running.
See also: down, wind

wind down

to start running or operating slower. Things will begin to wind down at the end of the summer. As things wind down, life will be a lot easier. The clock wound down and finally stopped.
See also: down, wind
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

wind down

Diminish gradually, draw to a close, as in By midnight the party had wound down. [Mid-1900s] Also see wind up.
See also: down, wind
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

wind down

v.
1. To diminish gradually in energy, intensity, or scope: The party wound down as guests began to leave.
2. To cause something to diminish in energy, intensity, or scope: We should wind down this meeting and go home. The discussions have been interesting, but now it's time to wind them down and go home.
See also: down, wind
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • draw near
  • near enough
  • in the near future
  • near post
  • hover
  • hover around
  • hover around (someone or something)
  • be near to (one's) heart
  • near and far
  • near to (one's) heart
References in periodicals archive
That firm will manage the wind down of this investment.
Treasury to begin wind down of $142B MBS portfolio
* Offer a plan to wind down your services when the client's immediate needs have been met.
Be an HR resource for your clients: from benefits administration to facilitating retreats, HR services fit many core CPA skills
The results for the nine months were impacted by expenses of $1,829,000, net of tax, or $0.11 per diluted share, including wind down costs of $464,000 related to the non-renewal of the Carsen distribution of Olympus products in Canada at July 31, 2006 (such wind down costs will continue throughout fiscal 2006), $683,000 of expenses related to the acquisition of Crosstex in August 2005 and $682,000 of stock-based compensation.
CANTEL MEDICAL REPORTS 20% INCREASE IN 3RD QTR NET INCOME
The company expects that operations will cease and the remaining wind down of the personal computer and mobility asset disposition business will be substantially complete by the end of 2019.
Arrow Electronics to wind-down PC and Mobility Asset disposition business
A top ECB official has said that the central bank should wind down its asset purchases.
ECB official calls for winding down of asset purchases
As long as there is need, the Commission should not wind down," he pointed out.
PCGG should also run after Arroyo's ill-gotten wealth
BANKING AND CREDIT NEWS-January 10, 2014-JPMorgan Chase & Co to sell or wind down prepaid cards business
JPMorgan Chase & Co to sell or wind down prepaid cards business
Butters said: "We would like to thank the staff for their continued support as we wind down the business.
IP rights sold off
The EU's top regulator, Commissioner Michel Barnier, is already promoting the creation of an agency to wind down problem banks, but this does not apply to clearing houses and insurers.
EU Eyes Rules for Dealing with Failing Insurers
But the Coast Guard is expected to wind down efforts early next week.
Fishermen hunt coming to an end; MISSING
NORTHERN Rail will start to wind down its services from 7pm on Christmas Eve, with very few trains running after 9pm.
Festive train time changes
The bad bank of Germany-based WestLB, Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, has announced that it was able to wind down a part of its original portfolio.
-WestLB unit winds down part of original portfolio
STEPHEN McCallister, of Battersea, South-West London, has a stressful City job and finds that gardening helps him to wind down at the end of a busy day.
YOUR GARDEN: IMPROVE IT CALMING CORNER
For example, for a cash-burning company with only enough cash in the bank to pay off company creditors: Is it the appropriate time to pay off those creditors and wind down the company?
Director of a troubled company? Stay alert! As a director of a troubled company, decisions you make can trigger huge potential liabilities--unless you take steps to limit or avoid your exposure. (Corporate Governance)