take down a notch
verb1
Idiomatic, Of a person or organization To cause a person's or group's self-esteem or importance to be decreased.
- Confident and near-cocky for the second straight debate […] [McCain] easily deflected Romney and Giuliani attempts to take him down a notch.2008 January 10, Mark Halperin, “The Republican Candisates: John McCain”, in Time, retrieved 08 Feb 2021:
- Yet it is Gervais who has always been considered […] a quasi-"man of the people" who dares to take the elites down a notch.2019 November 13, Adam Whites, “Banal, unfunny and not as dangerous as he thinks: It's time we stopped glorifying Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes”, in Independent, retrieved 08 Feb 2021:
1 more example
- Even discount superstore Wal-Mart, once considered a recession-proof business, was taken down a notch after it reported lackluster earnings last month.2013 March 26, The Motley Fool, “Will Dollar General Make Investors 'Fistfuls of Dollars'?”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 08 Feb 2021:
2
Idiomatic, Of a thing To cause the quantity, degree, or intensity of something to be decreased.
- [M]any travel companies are holding prices steady or taking them down a notch.2008 October 14, Michelle Higgins, “Europe Returning to Land of In-Reach”, in New York Times, retrieved 08 Feb 2021:
- [A]n increase in clouds (and a slight weakening of the heat dome overhead) may take temperatures down a notch.2015 May 21, Jason Samenow, “Record-challenging heat likely in D.C. in May’s final week”, in Washington Post, retrieved 08 Feb 2021:
1 more example
- Veteran hotelier Ian Schrager’s new venture in Manhattan takes luxury down a notch.2017 June 25, Eva Wiseman, “Public, New York: the five-star hotel for half the price”, in Guardian, retrieved 08 Feb 2021:
- Synonyms
- bring down a notch, bring down a peg, dial down a notch, knock down a notch, knock down a peg, move down a notch, move down a peg, pull down a notch, pull down a peg, take down a peg
- Related terms
- cut down to size, put someone in their place