Wordnet 3.0
VERB (1)
1. 
 assign to a lower position; 
 reduce in rank; 
- Example: "She was demoted because she always speaks up"- Example: "He was broken down to Sergeant"[syn: demote, bump, relegate, break, kick downstairs]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
kick downstairs
    v 1: assign to a lower position; reduce in rank; "She was
         demoted because she always speaks up"; "He was broken down
         to Sergeant" [syn: demote, bump, relegate, break,
         kick downstairs] [ant: advance, elevate, kick
         upstairs, promote, raise, upgrade]