turn down
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle down
Meanings
Reject or refuse an offer or request
Why “down”? A structure, a system, or someone's mood can go down when it fails.
“She turned down the job.”
“He turned down the invitation.”
“They turned down my request.”
Lower the volume, heat or intensity of a device
Why “down”? When there is less of something, it goes down. Prices, sound, heat and speed all work this way.
“Turn the music down.”
“Can you turn the heating down?”
“Turn down the volume, please.”
Fold or pull bedding so it is ready to sleep in
Why “down”? Movement goes from high to low.
“She turned down the bed for the guest.”
“The hotel turned down our beds.”
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“She turned down the job.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
turn away
A contrast learners often mix up
Refuse to allow someone to enter; Move your face or eyes from someone or something
turn up
A contrast learners often mix up
Increase the setting on a machine or device; Appear, often unexpectedly
back down
Same down pattern: losing
Withdraw from a position
bear down
Same down pattern: downward
Move quickly and threateningly toward someone
beat down
Same down pattern: downward
(of sun or rain) fall strongly and steadily
bend down
Same down pattern: downward
Lean the upper body downward
blow down
Same down pattern: downward
Cause something to fall by blowing
break down
Same down pattern: losing
(of a vehicle or machine) stop working; Lose emotional control and start crying; Separate something into smaller parts to understand it; (of negotiations or relationships) fail or end; Force a door open by hitting it; Decompose into simpler chemical substances
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “turn down”.
Practice “turn down” in Sink In
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