reduce to

reduce (one) to (doing something)

To cause, force, or bring one to perform some humble, unbefitting, or undignified action or behavior. Often used in passive constructions. I can't believe I was reduced to begging for my job when they threatened to fire me. Those idiotic lawmen will never reduce me to pleading for my life.See also: reduce

reduce (one) to (something)

To bring one to a lesser or worse state than they are typically in. Poverty reduced him to homelessness for a brief period of time.See also: reduce

reduce to

v.1. To decrease something to some level: The drought reduced the stream to a trickle.2. To bring someone to some humbler, weaker, difficult, or forced state or condition: The illness had reduced them almost to emaciation. The sight of her mother reduced her to tears. The army reduced him from a command post to a desk job.3. To bring someone to such a humble, weak, or desperate state or condition that he or she does something drastic: The Depression reduced many to begging on the street.4. To damage or destroy something, leaving it in some lesser state: The blaze reduced the warehouse to ashes.5. To make something shorter and simpler; summarize something: Their entire business philosophy can be reduced to "The customer is always right."See also: reduce