whittle down to size

English

Verb

whittle down to size (third-person singular simple present whittles down to size, present participle whittling down to size, simple past and past participle whittled down to size)

1. Alternative form of cut down to size
   • 1999, Matt Braun, El Paso, page 14:

     If he starts playing the big, tough hombre on the southside, those boys are just liable to whittle him down to size."

   • 2012, Sonny Collins, Anasazi Dreams: In Search of Coyote People, page 75:

     She seldom suffered fools. With one withering glance, she could whittle my father, who was a big man, down to size.

   • 2014, Peggy Nicholson, The Baby Bargain:

     And also, they're scared that the girls are going to realize what a hottie you are (which they will, if you ever talk to 'em), so they're trying to whittle you down to size before you steal all the women.