Meaning trap
turn down
reject
to refuse an offer, invitation, or request.
phrasal verbB1common
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
reject
to refuse an offer, invitation, or request.
turn down (reduce volume or heat)
Another meaning of 'turn down' is 'reduce volume or heat'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- He turned down the invitation to the party because he was too tired.work
- If I were offered a job abroad, I would probably turn it down because I want to stay close to my family.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: turn down + noun/pronoun
WrongThey turned down me for the role.
RightThey turned me down for the role.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'turn me down'.
Patternturn down + noun/pronoun
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Turn down' is the everyday verb for rejecting an offer; 'declined the offer of employment' is formal/written.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
turn down + offerthe offeran invitationa requestthe job
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'turn off,' which means to stop something working.
Related
- turn down (reduce volume or heat) — Another meaning of 'turn down' is 'reduce volume or heat'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.