142 : Phrasal verbs 6 up/down

   A   

Compare up and down:

 

put something up (on a wall etc.) I put a picture up on the wall.	take something down (from a wall etc.) I didn't like the picture, so I took it down.
pick something up There was a letter on the floor. I picked it up and looked at it.	put something down I stopped writing and put down my pen.
stand up Alan stood up and walked out.	sit down / bend down / lie down I bent down to tie my shoelace.
turn something up I can't hear the TV. Can you turn it up a bit?	turn something down The oven is too hot. Turn it down to 150 degrees.

 

 

   B   

Knock down, cut down etc.

 

 

knock down a building, blow something down, cut something down etc.

• Some old houses were knocked down to make way for the new shopping centre.
• Why did you cut down the tree in your garden?

 

 

be knocked down (by a car etc.)

• A man was knocked down by a car and taken to hospital.

 

 

burn down = be destroyed by fire

• They were able to put out the fire before the house burnt down.

 

 

   C   

Down = getting less

 

 

slow down = go more slowly

• You're driving too fast. Slow down.

 

 

calm (somebody) down = become calmer, make somebody calmer

• Calm down. There's no point in getting angry.

 

 

cut down (on something) = eat, drink or do something less often

• I'm trying to cut down on coffee. I drink too much of it.

 

 

   D   

Other verbs + down

 

 

break down = stop working (for machines, cars, relationships etc.)

• The car broke down and I had to phone for help.
• Their marriage broke down after only a few months.

 

 

close down / shut down = stop doing business

• There used to be a shop at the end of the street; it closed down a few years ago.

 

 

let somebody down = disappoint them because you didn't do what they hoped

• You can always rely on Paul. He'll never let you down.

 

 

turn somebody/something down = refuse an application, an offer etc.

• I applied for several jobs, but I was turned down for all of them.
• Rachel was offered the job, but she decided to turn it down.

 

 

write something down = write something on paper because you may need the information later

• I can't remember Tim's address. I wrote it down, but I can't find it.