drag it down to mediocrity -- 
(ROOT (S (VP (VB drag) (NP (PRP it)) (ADVP (RP down) (PP (IN to) (NP (NN mediocrity))))) (: --)))
(ROOT (S (VP (VB ) (NP (PRP )) (ADVP (RP ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NN ))))) (: )))