take down

take down someone/something

to remove a person or group from a position of power. Stockholders are hoping to take down the company's management team. Bush decided it was up to American forces to take Saddam down.

See also: down, take

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take down someone

1. to spoil or destroy someone's life. Some journalists just want to find a celebrity's weak points and take him or her down. She claims there was a government plot to take down outspoken community leaders.

2. to defeat a competitor. Today in tennis, Martinez easily took down Kournikova to win the championship.

See also: down, take

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take down something

to destroy an aircraft as it is flying. The helicopter was taken down by enemy guns.

See also: down, take