comedown
Disappointment; embarrassment; failure.
It was quite a comedown for Al when the girl he took for granted refused his marriage proposal.
cool down
cool off
To lose or cause to lose the heat of any deep feeling (as love, enthusiasm, or anger); make or become calm, cooled or indifferent; lose interest.
A heated argument can be settled better if both sides cool down first.
John was deeply in love with Sally before he left for college, but he cooled off before he got back.
Their friendship cooled off when Jack gave up football.
The neighbor's complaint about the noise cooled the argument down.
countdown
A step-by-step process which leads to the launching of a rocket.
Countdown starts at 23:00 hours tomorrow night and continues for 24 hours.
Process of counting inversely during the acts leading to a launch; liftoff occurs at zero.
Countdown for the race lasted five seconds.
The time immediately preceding an important undertaking, borrowed from Space English.
We're leaving for Hawaii tomorrow afternoon; this is countdown time for us.
crack down
To enforce laws or rules strictly; require full obedience to a rule. Often used with on.
After a speeding driver hit a child, the police cracked down.
Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors.
The coach cracked down on the players when he found they had not been obeying the training rules.
crown jewels
The crown, staff, and jewels used for the crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal power and authority.
The crown jewels are handed down from one king to the next when the new king is crowned.
cut down to size
put one in one's place
To prove that someone is not as good as he thinks.
The big boy told John he could beat him, but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size.
cut down
cut down on
cut back on
To lessen; reduce; limit.
Tom had to cut down expenses.
The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking.
In order to lose weight, you have to cut down on your intake of sugar.
The doctor told me to cut back on exercise until my back injury heals.
die away
die down
To come slowly to an end; grow slowly less or weaker.
The wind died down.
The music died away.
He waited until the excitement had died down.
His mother's anger died away.
The hurricane became a less serious tropical storm when its winds died down.
We let the fire in the fireplace die down and enjoyed watching the embers as they glowed in the dark.