take down
To write or record (what is said).
I will tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down.
To pull to pieces; take apart.
It will be a big job to take that tree down.
In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next morning they took it down.
We should take the pictures down from the wall and clean off the dust.
To reduce the pride or spirit of; humble.
Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry took him down.
The secretary took down everything that was said at the meeting.
take lying down
To accept something without defense or protest.
If you take such insults lying down, you will only encourage more of the same.
talk down
To make (someone) silent by talking louder or longer.
Sue tried to give her ideas, but the other girls talked her down.
To use words or ideas that are too easy.
The speaker talked down to the students, and they were bored.
taper down
To decrease; reduce.
He has tapered down his drinking from three martinis to one beer a day.
tear down
To take all down in pieces; to destroy; to demolish.
The workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place.
The construction company had to tear down the old hotel in order to build a new office building.
The owners had to tear the house down after it burned down in a fire.
To take to pieces or parts.
The mechanics had to tear down the engine, and fix it, and put it together again.
To say bad things about; criticize.
"Why do you always tear people down? Why don't you try to say nice things about them?"
Dorothy doesn't like Sandra, and at the class meeting she tore down every idea Sandra suggested.
throw down the gauntlet
To challenge, especially to a fight.
Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the gauntlet.
tie down
To keep (someone) from going somewhere or doing something; prevent from leaving; keep in.
Mrs. Brown can't come to the party. She's tied down at home with the children sick.
The navy tied the enemy down with big gunfire while the marines landed on the beach.
I can't help you with history now! I'm tied down with these algebra problems.
tone down
To make softer or quieter; make less harsh or strong; moderate.
He toned down the sound of the TV.
She wanted the bright colors in her house toned down.
When the ladies arrived, he toned down his language.
The strikers were asked to tone down their demands for higher pay so that there might be a quicker agreement and an end to the strike.