draw down

draw down

1. To physically pull or tug something down. Because I wasn't feeling well, I drew down the shades in my bedroom and took a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Draw down the curtain as soon as that musical number comes to an end. It was so mortifying—I was changing in the dressing room, but I must not have drawn down the curtain all the way, and complete strangers saw me naked!

2. To use up an available resource. I went out to chop more firewood since we've drawn down our supply this winter. I can't believe we've already drawn down the water in our well! We knew we couldn't draw down the food supplies, just in case the blizzard did hit and trap us inside for days.

3. To point a gun at someone. Before I knew it, he drew down on me, so I put my hands up. When the robber fumbled for his gun, it gave me enough time draw down on him with my own. I hid under the counter when I saw the customer suddenly draw down on one of the security guards.

See also: down, draw

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

draw something down

to pull something down. She drew the shades down to cut off the bright sunlight. She drew down the shades.

See also: down, draw

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

draw down

Deplete by consuming or spending, as in The government worries about drawing down our oil reserves.

See also: down, draw

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.

draw down

v.

1. To pull something down, especially by extending it: Draw down the shades so I can get dressed. The stagehand drew the curtain down after the first act.

2. To deplete something by consuming or spending: The embargo drew down our food reserves. The increased costs drew our budget down.

See also: down, draw

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.