Is it wrong to say "lessen it down"?

Answer 1

Makes no sense, but you can say it

Answer 2

It's a bit redundant; you can lessen something, or you can diminish it, or reduce its numbers, but the "down" part is pretty much saying the same thing, so it's unnecessary, and a bit awkward.

Answer 3

Ugh, yes. It's like saying "revert back" or "continue forward."
Lessening something by implication makes it "go down."
Horrible English.

Answer 4

"Pipe Down!" " Cool Down!" " Calm Down!" Yes all are well known but lessen down is not usual but I think the meaning would be clear

Answer 5

If you're lessening something, you're already bringing the amount down. Redundancy is not your friend.

Answer 6

It's a tautology. If you lessened it down to lessen it would be less clumsy.

Answer 7

Never heard the term before. How are you using it?

If those listening to you understand what you are saying, then it's not "wrong". But if you are the only one who udnerstands what you are saying, then it's "wrong" to use the term because no one will understand you. Commication requires both a sender AND a receiver.

Answer 8

Yes, in every context I can think of in my experience.
I am assuming you mean something like "turn it down" or "quiet down" noise or volume or flow

Answer 9

sounds like a double negative or something I thing the phrase youi are looking for is "take it down" as in take it down a notch when asking kids to lower their voices or noise level.

Answer 10

Sounds redundant to native speakers, so while it's not "wrong," it's not really clear. Try saying "tone it down."
Good luck

Answer 11

It is incorrect grammar to say that, most won't understand what you mean, I didn't. I've heard tighten it down and shorten it...but that may not be what you mean.