whittle down

:  a large knife

:  to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife

:  to shape or form by so paring or cutting

:  to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife :  pare

:  toward or in a lower physical position

:  to a lying or sitting position

:  toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom

:  down (see ¹down) along, around, through, toward, in, into, or on

:  to cause to go or come down (see ¹down) : such as

:  to cause to fall by or as if by shooting :  bring down

:  consume

:  occupying a low position

:  lying on the ground

:  directed or going downward

:  descent, depression

:  an instance of putting down someone (such as an opponent in wrestling)

:  a complete play to advance the ball

:  an undulating usually treeless upland with sparse soil

:  a sheep of any breed originating in the downs of southern England

:  a covering of soft fluffy feathers

:  these feathers

:  something soft and fluffy like down