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Common Phrasal Verbs with 'Down'

Enhance Your English with These Essential 'Down' Phrasal Verbs

phrasal verbs english books

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding Context: 'Down' phrasal verbs can convey both literal and figurative meanings, making context crucial for proper usage.
  • Versatility in Communication: Mastering these phrasal verbs enhances your ability to express a range of actions and emotions effectively.
  • Common Usage: These phrasal verbs are frequently used in everyday English, making them essential for both speaking and writing.

Introduction to 'Down' Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs with the particle 'down' are integral to the English language, offering nuanced meanings that can significantly enrich your communication skills. They are versatile, often serving both literal actions and metaphorical expressions. This comprehensive guide explores the most commonly used 'down' phrasal verbs, providing clear explanations and contextual examples to help you master their usage.

Comprehensive List of 'Down' Phrasal Verbs

Physical Actions

1. Break Down

Meaning: To stop functioning; to collapse emotionally.
Examples:

  • "My car broke down on the highway, and I had to call a tow truck."
  • "After the intense meeting, she broke down in tears."

2. Cut Down

Meaning: To reduce in quantity or size; to chop something with a sharp tool.
Examples:

  • "I need to cut down on my sugar intake for better health."
  • "They decided to cut down the old tree to make room for the new building."

3. Put Down

Meaning: To place something on a lower surface; to criticize or belittle someone.
Examples:

  • "Please put down the book on the table."
  • "He often puts down his colleagues, which affects team morale."

4. Hold Down

Meaning: To keep something in a particular position; to maintain a job or responsibility.
Examples:

  • "Make sure you hold down the tent securely during the storm."
  • "She manages to hold down two jobs while studying full-time."

5. Knock Down

Meaning: To reduce a price; to strike someone or something to the ground.
Examples:

  • "The salesman agreed to knock down the price."
  • "The strong wind knocked down several trees in the area."

6. Bring Down

Meaning: To cause something to fall or be destroyed.
Examples:

  • "A series of poor investments brought down the company."
  • "The protesters aimed to bring down the corrupt administration."

7. Sit Down

Meaning: To take a seat; to establish oneself in a particular position or start a discussion.
Examples:

  • "Come in and sit down. We have a lot to discuss."
  • "After a long day, I just want to sit down and relax."

Emotional and Psychological States

1. Calm Down

Meaning: To become less angry or agitated.
Examples:

  • "After the argument, he took a deep breath to calm down."
  • "The teacher told the rowdy class to calm down before starting the lesson."

2. Let Down

Meaning: To disappoint someone or to lower something physically.
Examples:

  • "He let me down when he didn't show up to the meeting."
  • "She felt let down by the poor quality of the product."

3. Back Down

Meaning: To stop defending a position or retreat from an argument.
Examples:

  • "After weeks of negotiating, the manager backed down and accepted the compromise."
  • "She backed down and agreed to their conditions."

4. Wear Down

Meaning: To gradually reduce someone's resistance through persistent effort.
Examples:

  • "The unions finally wore the management down on the issue of overtime pay."
  • "Continuous feedback can help wear down initial resistance to change."

5. Get Down

Meaning: To descend physically; to start concentrating on work; feeling depressed or low.
Examples:

  • "Let’s get down from that ladder carefully."
  • "It’s time to get down to business and finish this project."
  • "The gloomy weather made me get down.

6. Look Down (On)

Meaning: To regard someone or something with a sense of superiority or contempt.
Examples:

  • "It’s not fair to look down on others just because they have different opinions."
  • "He tends to look down on people who don’t share his interests."

Communication and Social Interactions

1. Turn Down

Meaning: To reject or refuse an offer or request; to decrease the volume or intensity of something.
Examples:

  • "She turned down the job offer because it required too much travel."
  • "Can you turn down the music? It's too loud."
  • "I had to turn down the invitation to the event."

2. Settle Down

Meaning: To become calm or quiet; to start living a more stable and routine life.
Examples:

  • "After the excitement, the children settled down and went to sleep."
  • "They decided to settle down in a small town after years of traveling."

3. Take Down

Meaning: To remove something from a higher place; to record information in writing.
Examples:

  • "They took down the decorations after the party ended."
  • "Please take down these notes for the meeting."

4. Jot Down

Meaning: To quickly write a note.
Examples:

  • "The writer jotted down a few ideas during the train journey."
  • "Don't forget to jot down your thoughts before the meeting."

5. Sit Down

Meaning: To take a seat; to establish oneself in a particular position or start a discussion.
Examples:

  • "Come in and sit down. We have a lot to discuss."
  • "After a long day, I just want to sit down and relax."

Miscellaneous

1. Go Down

Meaning: To descend; to decrease; to be accepted or remembered.
Examples:

  • "Watch your step as you go down the stairs."
  • "The temperature has gone down since this morning."
  • "This event will go down in history."

2. Write Down

Meaning: To record something in writing.
Examples:

  • "Make sure to write down the appointment details so you don't forget."
  • "He wrote down the recipe to try it at home later."

3. Knock Down

Meaning: To reduce a price; to strike someone or something to the ground.
Examples:

  • "The salesman agreed to knock down the price."
  • "The strong wind knocked down several trees in the area."

4. Bring Down

Meaning: To cause something to fall or be destroyed.
Examples:

  • "A series of poor investments brought down the company."
  • "The protesters aimed to bring down the corrupt administration."

5. Get Down

Meaning: To descend physically; to start concentrating on work; feeling depressed or low.
Examples:

  • "Let’s get down from that ladder carefully."
  • "It’s time to get down to business and finish this project."
  • "The gloomy weather made me get down.

6. Calm Down

Meaning: To become less angry or agitated.
Examples:

  • "After the argument, he took a deep breath to calm down."
  • "The teacher told the rowdy class to calm down before starting the lesson."

Summary Table of 'Down' Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
Break Down To stop functioning; to collapse emotionally "The car broke down on the highway."
Cut Down To reduce in quantity or size; to chop something "They decided to cut down the old tree."
Put Down To place something on a lower surface; to belittle someone "He always puts down his colleagues."
Calm Down To become less angry or agitated "She took a deep breath to calm down."
Let Down To disappoint someone; to lower something "He let me down by missing the meeting."
Turn Down To reject an offer; to decrease volume "She turned down the job offer."
Go Down To descend; to decrease; to be remembered "The temperature has gone down since morning."
Back Down To retreat from an argument "He backed down after the negotiation."
Hold Down To keep in position; to maintain a job "She manages to hold down two jobs."
Write Down To record in writing "Please write down your password."

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs with 'down' is a valuable step in achieving fluency in English. These verbs are not only prevalent in everyday conversations but also enhance the depth and clarity of your communication. By understanding their varied meanings and contexts, you can effectively express a wide range of actions and emotions, making your English both versatile and nuanced. Regular practice and application of these phrasal verbs will undoubtedly contribute to your linguistic proficiency.

References


Last updated February 10, 2025
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