wear down

Quote

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Definition

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exhaust or break down by lots of pressure

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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At this year’s Oscars, the award for best actress went to Sandra Bullock. When she made her acceptance speech, she joked that the only reason she had won the award was because the voters were tired of her and wanted her to stop bothering them. She joked that she had worn them down.

When you wear someone down, you put continuous pressure on them until they finally give in and do what you want. Kids wear down their parents by asking them for a certain toy or permission to go out with their friends over and over and over. In an argument, one person might wear down the other by making the same points again and again and refusing to listen to the opposite side. And in sports, one team wears down its opponent by being tough and aggressive.

Wear down isn’t the only expression that uses the verb wear. If something wears out, it becomes unusable through heavy use. And if something wears off, it gradually goes away. Sandra Bullock probably hopes that her popularity as an actress won’t wear off any time soon.

Have you ever gotten something you wanted by wearing someone down? Do you think Sandra Bullock deserved to win the Academy Award for best actress?

Examples

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“Melissa didn’t want to marry me at first, but I finally wore her down and she said yes.”

“My parents wear me down with their endless nagging.”

“Harry won the debate by wearing down his opponents.”