inappropriate phrase

[Joe]

Let me take "reduce" as an example.

reduce: to make something smaller or less in size, amount, or price(I seem to hear people saying, "I don't need you to tell me what "reduce" means" :wink: ).

We may say, "reduce crime, costs, workforce...". It seems that we can "recude" anything. My question is, does "reduce" work well with anything? Could you give me an example where you would not use "reduce" ? (Like, I would not say "reduce (a noun) ". Thanks. :)

[Francois]

Don't reduce your kids, that was a baaad movie.

FRC

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Francois

Don't reduce your kids, that was a baaad movie.

FRC

reduce...kids? This is an incorrect usage, right?

[Joe]

Cas, tdol, what do you think? :)

[Francois]

American production at its best ;)

FRC

[Tdol]

There are some cases where there is a better word- you might shorten trousers that were too long, but you wouldn't reduce them.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by tdol

There are some cases where there is a better word- you might shorten trousers that were too long, but you wouldn't reduce them.

Would you say something like "reduce one's courage"?
:)

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Joe

Would you say something like "reduce one's courage"?
:)

I believe not. courage is not quantifiable (i.e., the property of a thing that is measurable). :wink:

Reduce your stress (level)
=> Levels are quantifiable

Reduce your food intake
=> intakes are quantifiable

Reduce the number of children
=>Numbers are quantifiable

Reduce your speech (i.e., the number of words in your speech/pubic address)

As for nouns that don't go with 'reduce', try words that are not associated with things that are quantifiable e.g., Reduce your dog

I'm having my toes reduced? (OK) It means, I'm getting them shortened.

All the best, :D

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

I believe not. courage is not quantifiable (i.e., the property of a thing that is measurable). :wink:

Reduce your stress (level)
=> Levels are quantifiable

Reduce your food intake
=> intakes are quantifiable

Reduce the number of children
=>Numbers are quantifiable

Reduce your speech (i.e., the number of words in your speech/pubic address)

As for nouns that don't go with 'reduce', try words that are not associated with things that are quantifiable e.g., Reduce your dog

I'm having my toes reduced? (OK) It means, I'm getting them shortened.

All the best, :D

:D Thanks to your explanation, I believe I am pretty clear now.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Joe

:D Thanks to your explanation, I believe I am pretty clear now.

You're welcome. :D

Try,

..., it's pretty/fairly clear now.

All the best, :D