How many words can you think of that can precede DOWN. Below are hints to 25 of them. There are many more.

1. Over-simplifies, as academic standards
2. Retreat in Pentagon speak
3. Blackjack strategy
4. Eat greedily
5. Eat greedily
6. Eat greedily
7. Like a computer menu
8. Football term
9. Football term
10. Wrestling term
11. Act of demanding money by using threats
12. Symbol of disapproval
13. Reprimand or go casual
14. Resign, often under pressure
15. Reduce the price
16. Lose weight
17. Spacecraft return to earth
18. Insult or humiliate
19. Patronize
20. Apply yourself seriously
21. What you do when you have a wife and kids
22. Reduce the force or effectiveness
23. Cool off, as after an argument
24. The way cards are dealt, usually
25. Confrontation to settle a dispute

26. Quiet!

27. Disappointment

28. Overwhelmingly

29. In bad shape

30. In bad shape

31. Eye-to-eye confrontation

Answers:

1. Dumb down
2. Drawdown
3. Double down
4. Chow down
5. Scarf down
6. Wolf down
7. Pull down
8. First down
9. Touchdown
10. Takedown
11. Shakedown
12. Thumbs down
13. Dress down
14. Step down
15. Mark down
16. Slim down
17. Splashdown
18. Put down
19 Talk down (to)
20. Buckle down
21. Settle down
22. Water down
23. Simmer down
24. Face down
25. Showdown 

26. Pipe down!

27. Letdown

28. Hands down

29. Broken down

30. Tumble-down

31. Stare down