downsizing

Everyday

1. Downsizing is when a company makes itself smaller by cutting jobs; workers lose their jobs. tree →
2. Downsizing is moving to a smaller house or having fewer things, often when children have grown up. tree →
3. (euphemism) Companies say "downsizing" as a softer word for sacking workers. tree →

In the lessons

In news and economics: a company announces downsizing. In everyday life grandparents downsize to a smaller flat. A euphemism: it hides the hard fact that people lose their jobs. Phrases: downsizing of staff, downsize to.

Examples

• The factory's downsizing meant 50 people lost their jobs. tree →
• After the children left home, my grandparents downsized to a bungalow. tree →
• The company called it downsizing, but Dad was let go. tree →
• Downsizing a team can make the others work harder. tree →
• We are downsizing our toy collection and giving some away. tree →
• The shop is downsizing to a smaller building. tree →

Note

Uncountable noun. Similar euphemisms: cutbacks, restructuring, let go, made redundant. In maths: if a company with 400 workers cuts 25 percent, 100 jobs go and 300 are left.