what's the opposite of this?

[dilodi83]

- On the south coast winds will pick up during the afternoon, becoming strong by the evening.

I think the verb in bold means "to start becoming stronger", am I right?
Now, is it pick down or calm down the opposite of this verb? I mean, how to say that winds are becoming weaker?

[5jj]

You are right.

Winds drop, fall, decrease or lessen

[dilodi83]

You are right.

Winds drop, fall, decrease or lessen

what about "to blow over" referring to winds? Could this be an opposite verb to "pick up"?

[Barb_D]

No, a storm blows over when it's done.

Winds pick up, winds drop off. (Or decrease or lessen, as stated above, but "drop off" is the most common one I hear.)

[5jj]

COCA gives 19 examples of 'wind dropped', and none of 'wind dropped off'.

I saw that three of the 'wind dropped' examples were not relevant - 'The wind dropped the handkerchief', for example - but that still leaves 16.

[emsr2d2]

I would say that winds "die down".

[BobK]

No, a storm blows over when it's done.

Winds pick up, winds drop off. (Or decrease or lessen, as stated above, but "drop off" is the most common one I hear.)

... or a tree blows over in a storm.

Winds also 'die down' (as emsr2d2 has said) - but this is usually quite a dramatic change; often they just 'ease off' rather than dying down completely.

(So many things for winds to do. I'm glad I don't have to learn this stuff. )

b

[emsr2d2]

... or a tree blows over in a storm.

Winds also 'die down' (as emsr2d2 has said) - but this is usually quite a dramatic change; often they just 'ease off' rather than dying down completely.

(So many things for winds to do. I'm glad I don't have to learn this stuff. )

b

If a wind suddenly died down, I would agree that it's a dramatic change. However, surely they can gradually die down over a period of time.

[BobK]

If a wind suddenly died down, I would agree that it's a dramatic change. However, surely they can gradually die down over a period of time.

Yes - I thought - as I was writing it - that 'dramatic' was the wrong word; perhaps 'measurable' or 'perceptible'... but they're still not right.

b