boil down something

boil down something
boil down (something) to reduce something to its most basic or important parts.

I am supposed to boil down this ten-page report to half a page.

The whole question boils down to how will we pay for this?


New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • boil down — (something) to reduce something to its most basic or important parts. I am supposed to boil down this ten page report to half a page. The whole question boils down to how will we pay for this? …   New idioms dictionary

  • boil down — verb 1. be the essential element (Freq. 1) The proposal boils down to a compromise • Syn: ↑reduce, ↑come down • Derivationally related forms: ↑reducible (for: ↑reduc …   Useful english dictionary

  • boil down to something — ˌboil ˈdown to sth derived (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a situation, problem, etc.) to have sth as a main or basic part • In the end, what it all boils down to is money, or the lack of it. Main entry: ↑boil …   Useful english dictionary

  • boil down to — COME DOWN TO, amount to, add up to, be in essence. → boil * * * boil down to (figurative) To mean, to signify when reduced to essentials • • • Main Entry: ↑boil * * * ˌboil ˈdown to [transitive] never progressive [ …   Useful english dictionary

  • boil down — phrasal verb Word forms boil down : present tense I/you/we/they boil down he/she/it boils down present participle boiling down past tense boiled down past participle boiled down 1) [intransitive/transitive] to become smaller in quantity after… …   English dictionary

  • boil down to — phrasal verb [transitive, never progressive] Word forms boil down to : present tense I/you/we/they boil down to he/she/it boils down to present participle boiling down to past tense boiled down to past participle boiled down to boil down to… …   English dictionary

  • boil down phrasal — verb 1 (intransitive, transitive boil something down) if a food or liquid boils down, it becomes less after cooking: Spinach tends to boil down a lot. 2 (T) boil sth down to make information shorter by not including anything that is not necessary …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • ˌboil ˈdown to sth — phrasal verb to be the main reason for something, or the most basic part of something Passing exams isn t difficult, it all boils down to good preparation.[/ex] …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • boil down to sth phrasal — verb (transitive not in progressive) informal if a long statement, argument etc boils down to something, that is the main point or cause: What it boils down to, is that no one is willing to take on that kind of responsibility …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • boil — boil1 [ bɔıl ] verb * 1. ) intransitive or transitive if a liquid boils, or if you boil it, it becomes so hot that there are BUBBLES in it and it starts to become a gas: When the water boils, add the rice. Boil some milk in a pan. put something… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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