lower (redirected from lowering)

drop/lower your guard

to stop being careful to avoid danger or difficulty. Once he knew I wasn't a journalist, he dropped his guard and even let me take a photograph of him.

See also: drop, guard

lower your sights

to accept something less good than the thing you were hoping for. With so few jobs around she's had to lower her sights.

See also: sight

lower the boom (American, informal)

to suddenly stop someone doing something you do not approve of. Dad lowered the boom. I have to stay in the next two weekends.

lower the tone

if something lowers the tone of a place, it makes it less suitable for people of a high social class, and if something lowers the tone of a conversation or a piece of writing, it makes it less polite or of a lower quality. The locals don't like students living around here. It lowers the tone of the neighbourhood. (usually + of) Trust you to lower the tone of the evening by telling rude jokes, Ian!

See also: tone

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lower your sights

to accept something that is not as good as what you originally wanted. With so few jobs around she's had to lower her sights.

Usage notes: the opposite meaning is expressed by raise your sights to try to get something better than you had originally expected

See also: sight