Meaning of thin the herd | Babel Free

Definitions

1. to cull, to reduce the size of a group
   idiomatic
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see thin, the, herd.

Examples

“Early on, if we came into a pot we came in for about three times the big blind because we generally wanted to thin the herd. Now we don't have⟳ to worry⟳ about that so much, for the herd will thin itself. It's smaller to begin⟳ with, since three or four players are gone, plus we're starting to get⟳ within sniffing distance of the money, so our foes will naturally start⟳ to tighten⟳ up.”

““If we have⟳ a chance, catch⟳ one of them out alone, we'll take⟳ it, thin the herd a little.” Harv snorted. “Herd? A cripple, a woman, and a coward. No herd to thin there. I'd like⟳ to keep⟳ that woman alive for a while, though.”

“Unless China could successfully neutralise Taiwan's ability to 'thin the herd' by taking out its air bases, its fixed and mobile land-based missile launchers (such as RBS-17 coastal-defence missiles mounted on trucks), its missile-armed Apache helicopters and its swarming fast-attack ships, its invasion will be in trouble⟳.”

CEFR level