Unit 142 · Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs 6 up/down
Study
Compare up and down:
put something up (on a wall etc.)
I put a picture up on the wall.
pick something up
There was a letter on the floor. I picked it up and looked at it.
stand up
Alan stood up and walked out.
turn something up
I can't hear the TV. Can you turn it up a bit?
take something down (from a wall etc.)
I didn't like the picture, so I took it down.
put something down
I stopped writing and put down my pen.
sit down / bend down / lie down
I bent down to tie my shoelace.
turn something down
The oven is too hot. Turn it down to 150 degrees.
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.
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.
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 Ben's address. I wrote it down, but I can't find it.
Exercises (3)
Complete the sentences. Use a verb + up or down.
- 1There used to be a tree next to the house, but we it down.example
- 2There used to be some shelves on the wall, but I .
- 3The ceiling was so low, he couldn't straight.
- 4She couldn't hear the radio very well, so she .
- 5While they were waiting for the bus, they on the ground.
- 6A few trees in the storm last week.
- 7We've got some new curtains, but we haven't yet.
- 8Lisa dropped her keys, so she and .
Complete the sentences. Use a verb (in the correct form) + down. Choose from: calm cut let take turn write
- 1I don't like this picture on the wall. I'm going to it down.example
- 2The music was too loud, so I it down.
- 3David was very angry. I tried to him down.
- 4I promised I would help Anna. I don't want to her down.
- 5I've forgotten my password. I should have it down.
- 6Those trees are beautiful. Please don't them down.
Complete the sentences. Use a verb + down.
- 1I stopped writing and my pen.example
- 2I was really angry. It took me a long time to .
- 3The train as it approached the station.
- 4Sarah applied to study medicine at university, but she .
- 5Our car is very reliable. It has never .
- 6I spend too much money. I'm going to on things I don't need.
- 7I didn't play well. I felt that I had the other players in the team.
- 8The shop because it was losing money.
- 9It's a very ugly building. Many people would like it to .
- 10I can't understand why you the chance of working in another country for a year. It would have been a great experience for you.
- 11I didn't see the accident. Someone told me that a boy as he was crossing the road.
- 12Peter got married when he was 20, but unfortunately the marriage a few years later.