What does "turn down" mean?
Two main meanings:1. To refuse or reject:"She turned down the job offer.""He turned me down when I asked him out.""The bank turned down our loan application."The rejection meaning is the most important one in professional contexts.2. To reduce volume, temperature, or intensity:"Can you turn down ...
Two main meanings
1. To refuse or reject
"She turned down the job offer."
"He turned me down when I asked him out."
"The bank turned down our loan application."
The rejection meaning is the most important one in professional contexts.
2. To reduce volume, temperature, or intensity
"Can you turn down the music?"
"Turn down the heating - it's too hot."
"She turned down the lights for the presentation."
Separable
"Turn down the offer." β / "Turn the offer down." β / "Turn it down." β
Turned down vs knocked back
Both mean rejected - knocked back is more British and informal:
"The planning application was knocked back again."
A native would say (refusal)
- "Decline" - formal: "We regret to decline your application."
- "Reject" - more direct, can sound harsh
- "Pass on" - casual: "I'm going to pass on this one."
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Both meanings are common in everyday and professional English.
What does "turn down" mean?
Two main meanings:1. To refuse or reject:"She turned down the job offer.""He turned me down when I asked him out.""The bank turned down our loan application."The rejection meaning is the most important one in professional contexts.2. To reduce volume, temperature, or intensity:"Can you turn down ...
Is "turn down" formal or informal?
Both meanings are common in everyday and professional English.
What's another way to say "turn down"?
- "Decline" - formal: "We regret to decline your application."
- "Reject" - more direct, can sound harsh
- "Pass on" - casual: "I'm going to pass on this one."
Phrasal verbs are one of the hardest parts of English to master.
LLH Tutor explains them in plain language, so you know exactly when and how to use each one.
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