runter|schrauben
Translation
to turn down, to reduce, to scale back, to lower
Examples
Kannst du die Musik bitte runterschrauben?
Can you please turn down the music?
Wir müssen unsere Ausgaben runterschrauben.
We have to scale back our expenses.
Er sollte seine Erwartungen etwas runterschrauben.
He should lower his expectations a bit.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to turn sth. down She turned down the heating.
Similar Words
Synonyms: reduzieren (to reduce), senken (to lower), verringern (to decrease); Antonyms: hochschrauben (to ramp up), erhöhen (to increase), steigern (to boost)
Etymology
From 'runter' (down) and 'schrauben' (to screw). The literal image is turning a screw or knob to lower something.
Memory Tips
Picture turning a screw ('schrauben') to move something 'runter' (down), like lowering the volume on an old radio.