throttle down

throttle down (third-person singular simple present throttles down, present participle throttling down, simple past and past participle throttled down)

1. To reduce power to (an engine), reduce speed
   • 1908, Popular Mechanics, March 1908, p. 112,

     Therefore, before declutching, throttle down your engine.

   • 2008, W. David Woods, How Apollo Flew to the Moon, Springer, 2011, Chapter 10, p. 294,

     "You can feel it in here when it throttles down," noted Aldrin. "Better than the simulator."

2. To suppress (an emotion)
   • 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter X, p. 165,

     She had throttled down the chagrin the loss had caused her, observant of conventions, leaving it until decay had robbed the debtor of the right to the respect that must be given those that are Lying Dead.

   • 2016, Mercedes Lackey, The Fairy Godmother, Chapter 1, Harlequin,

     "Yes, Madame," Elena replied, throttling down her joy. They still might change their minds—something might happen.