mow down

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Word: Mow Down

Part of Speech: Verb

Basic Definition: "Mow down" means to kill or injure a large number of people quickly and without care. It can also refer to cutting down plants or grass using a mower.

Usage Instructions:

• "Mow down" is often used in serious contexts, especially when referring to violence or warfare.
• It can also be used more casually when talking about cutting grass or plants.

Example Sentences:

1. Serious Context: "The soldiers were ordered to mow down the enemy forces during the battle."
2. Casual Context: "I need to mow down the tall grass in my backyard this weekend."

Advanced Usage:

• In a figurative sense, "mow down" can be used to describe quickly defeating someone in a competition or argument, as in, "She mowed down her opponents in the debate."

Word Variants:

• Mowed Down (Past Tense): "The troops mowed down the enemies last night."
• Mowing Down (Present Participle): "They are mowing down the weeds in the garden."

Different Meanings:

1. Literal (Gardening): To cut grass or plants short using a lawnmower or similar tool.
2. Figurative (Competition): To defeat or overpower someone swiftly.

Synonyms:

• Kill: To cause the death of someone.
• Slaughter: To kill in a violent or brutal way.
• Cut down: To physically reduce height or amount, as in plants or trees.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While "mow down" itself is a phrasal verb, there are related phrases:
  • "Cut down" can also mean to kill but is often used in a more general sense, especially relating to reducing something in size or amount.

Summary:

"Mow down" is a versatile verb that can describe both violent actions towards people and the physical act of cutting plants or grass.

Academic

Verb

1. kill a large number of people indiscriminately
   • The Hutus massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda

Synonyms

• massacre
• slaughter