PhrasesHub

Pipe down

    Definitions

      • to tell someone to be quiet or stop making noise
        Used to ask someone to lower their voice or stop talking

      • to calm down or relax
        Used to tell someone to calm their emotions or to stop being overly excited or agitated

    Examples of Pipe down

    • During the meeting, the new employee kept interrupting and talking over his colleagues. The manager had to pipe down the young man and ask him to let others finish speaking.

      The phrase "pipe down" is used here to mean "be quiet" or "stop making noise". It's a colorful way to ask someone to speak more softly or to stop talking altogether.

    • The children in the back of the classroom were whispering and giggling, distracting the others. The teacher asked them to pipe down so the lesson could continue.

      Again, "pipe down" in this context means "be quiet" or "stop making noise". It's a simple way to request that people be more considerate of others and not disrupt the peaceful environment.

    • During the concert, the audience was chatting and laughing, ruining the experience for others. The artist paused and asked the crowd to pipe down so she could continue her performance.

      Here, "pipe down" is used in a more formal setting to request that a group of people become quiet. It's a polite way to ask for respect and consideration for others around them.

    • John's friend Sarah kept bragging about her vacation, talking over others and not listening to their stories. John gave her a look and said, "Sarah, please pipe down. We want to hear what happened to you too, but let's give everyone a chance to speak."

      In this example, "pipe down" serves as an instruction to quiet someone down, especially when they're being overly loud or boastful. It's a way to demand respect and equal time for everyone in a group setting.

    • The children in the backseat were getting too loud and distracting the driver, so the mother turned around and said, "Pipe down, please. We need to focus on the road."

      "Pipe down" is a command to be quiet or to lower one's voice. It comes from the nautical term "pipe", which means to sound the horn or whistle on a ship. In the past, sailors were instructed to "pipe down" their voices when the ship's horn sounded, as a signal to quieten down and listen for important announcements. Today, "pipe down" is a common idiom in everyday English, typically used to ask people, especially children, to be quiet in order to hear or focus on something else.

    • During a presentation, a colleague kept interrupting and talking over the speaker. The boss intervened and said, "Excuse me, but we need to pipe down and let the presenter finish speaking."

      In this example, "pipe down" is used to tell a group of people to be quiet, as the presenter needs to finish speaking without interruption.

    • At a party, the music was playing loudly and some guests were having trouble hearing each other. The host shouted, "Can you pipe down the music, please? I want to be able to hear myself think."

      This example shows how "pipe down" can be used to request that a loud noise, such as music, be turned down so that people can speak and hear each other clearly.

    • Two friends were arguing loudly in a crowded room, annoying the other guests. A nearby stranger leaned over and said, "Hey, can you pipe down a bit? I'm trying to have a conversation over here."

      "Pipe down" can also be used to ask people to lower their voices in a public place where others are trying to listen to something else, as in this example where a stranger asks the arguing friends to quieten down so that he can hear his own conversation.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "pipe down" is commonly used to ask someone to be quiet or calm down. It can be used in various situations, whether to hush someone in a noisy environment or to advise someone to relax and control their emotions.

    Origin of "Pipe down"

    The origin of the idiom "pipe down" can be traced back to nautical terminology. The phrase refers to the act of using a pipe, a type of musical instrument, to give commands on a ship. The phrase "pipe down" would have been used to signal the end of the day and for the crew to quiet down and go to sleep. Over time, the term transitioned into everyday language to mean "be quiet" or "calm down." The idiom has since become a common way to ask someone to lower their voice or relax in various settings.