Meaning trap
turn down
reduce volume or heat
to make something, like the sound or heat, lower or less strong.
phrasal verbB1common
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
reduce volume or heat
to make something, like the sound or heat, lower or less strong.
turn down (reject)
Another meaning of 'turn down' is 'reject'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Could you turn down the music? It's too loud.daily life
- When I study, I always turn down the volume on my phone so I can concentrate better.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: turn down + noun/pronoun
WrongCan you turn down it?
RightCan you turn it down?
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'turn it down'.
Patternturn down + noun/pronoun
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Turn down' is the everyday verb for lowering volume/heat; 'decrease the volume' is manual-speak.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
turn down + levelthe volumethe heatingthe musicthe lights
Don't confuse it
Different from 'turn off,' which means to stop something completely.
Related
- turn down (reject) — Another meaning of 'turn down' is 'reject'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.