wind down

Meaning

To 'wind down' means to gradually relax after a period of excitement, tension, or hard work. It can also refer to a business, event, or activity slowly coming to an end. It is a warm, casual expression used frequently in daily conversation.

Examples

• I like to wind down with a hot cup of tea and a good book before bed.

  I like to wind down with a hot cup of tea and a good book before bed.

• After a hectic week, I just want to wind down this weekend.

  After a hectic week, I just want to wind down this weekend.

• The party started to wind down around midnight as guests began to leave.

  The party started to wind down around midnight as guests began to leave.

• It takes me at least an hour to wind down after a workout.

  It takes me at least an hour to wind down after a workout.

• Let's watch a movie to help us wind down after that long flight.

  Let's watch a movie to help us wind down after that long flight.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to wind down myself after work.

  ✓ I need to wind down after work.

  'Wind down' is an intransitive phrasal verb when used to mean 'relax'. Do not use a reflexive pronoun like 'myself' with it.

• ✗ The meeting is winding up, so we can go home soon.

  ✓ The meeting is winding down, so we can go home soon.

  'Wind up' can mean to conclude, but it also means to make someone angry or anxious. 'Wind down' is the correct term for an activity naturally and slowly coming to an end.

Related Expressions

Practice

• What do you usually do to ___ after a stressful day at the office?

  💡 Gradually relax.

  Show answer

  wind down

• As the summer vacation started to ___, the kids got ready for school.

  💡 Draw to a close or slowly end.

  Show answer

  wind down