step down
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step down
1. To resign from some job or position, especially one with high power or authority. Effective immediately, I'll be stepping down as director of the company. Following the scandal, the governor was forced to step down from office.
2. To reduce or lessen something, especially gradually or in stages. Our goal is to step down CO2 emissions over the coming decade. Please begin stepping down the voltage.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
step something down
to reduce the intensity or amount of something by one step or grade. See if you can step the lights down a little. step down the lights just a little more.
step down
(from something)1. Lit. to come down from something; to alight from something. Please step down from the platform. she stepped down and went back to her chair.
2. Fig. to resign a job or a responsibility. The mayor stepped down from office last week. It's unusual for a mayor to step down.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
step down
1. Resign from office, as in He threatened to step down if they continued to argue with him. [Late 1800s]
2. Reduce, especially in stages, as in They were stepping down the voltage. [c. 1900] Also see step up, def. 1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
step down
v.
1. To descend with a step: The speaker stepped down from the platform. The carpenter stepped down off the ladder.
2. To resign from a high post: The mayor stepped down after two years in office.
3. To reduce, especially in stages: The scientists stepped down the temperature in the chamber and repeated the test. The transformer steps the power down from 110 volts to 24 volts.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.