pipe down

verb

piped down; piping down; pipes down

intransitive verb

: to stop talking or making noise

Synonyms

• calm (down)
• chill out [slang]
• cool
• hush
• quiet
• settle (down)

Examples of pipe down in a Sentence

if you don't pipe down, we're turning this car around and going straight home!

“Pipe down or I'll cancel recess!” the teacher commanded

Recent Examples on the Web

Down here on the Gulf Coast, fracked gas is being piped down to the coastal wetlands every day to be refrigerated and sold abroad. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Jason thinks Anthony needs to pipe down but also that Tzarina should assert herself more as the head of the department. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025

The freshwater was coming from a sewage-treatment pipe down below. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

The Vidalia fans will need to pipe down once and for all. —Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

Alexander’s trash talk ensued and Wicks got up and shoved Alexander, who told Wicks to pipe down. —Matt Schneidman, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024

So, the liberal media should pipe down and order the flowers. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2024

Traditionalists who follow the Test arena want England to pipe down a bit and play sensibly when the game favours them. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024

Or can parents pipe down and put the focus back on the kids if a threat of repercussions looms? —Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

pipe entry 2

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pipe down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown

Kids Definition

pipe down

verb

: to stop talking or making noise