MicroEnglish.

Turn down
Phrasal Verbs | B2

Listening exercises with “Turn down”

The phrasal verb to turn somebody/something down means to reject somebody or something. For example, you might reject a job offer, help, advice, money and so on.

This phrasal verb can be used in the passive voice when you want to focus on the person or thing being rejected, rather than the person who rejects it. e.g. I applied for a business loan, but for some reason I got turned down.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: England (RP)

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London.
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I the job didn't move London.
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Accent: North America

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His overdraft by the bank.
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Accent: Ireland

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I've always the opportunity year abroad.
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In

6 responses

  1. Tanya Avatar
    Tanya

    1. Yes, I’ve been several times in situations in which I didn’t want to try smth (mostly food). Maybe it’s not good, but if I really don’t want to eat or to do something (for ex, because of my fears or believes or any other reason), with a lot of exuses I will turn it down.

    I have a friend who do his best to eat only healthy food. Very often people want him to eat smth he don’t eat on a dayly basis. Not to be rude, he tell that he is alergetic. It really works 🙂

    2. I don’t regret turning down some opportunities because I believe that there will be another chance (or even more) in the future 🙂

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Well done Tanya, great examples.

      A couple of corrections: careful with the spelling of ‘beliefs’. I think you’ve mixed up the noun (belief) with the verb (believe).

      In the example about your friend, remember to use the third person form. I can see three mistakes with this – can you correct them?

      In the same example, careful with the spelling of daily and allergic.

      Reply
  2. Tanya Avatar
    Tanya

    Hi! Thank you for your feedback!
    It’s clear with ‘daily’, ‘beliefs’ and ‘allergic’. But I don’t see 3 mistakes with the three person form…((

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Remember that when you use he/she/it, you need to use the special 3rd person form of the verb (e.g. he wants, not he want). Your mistakes are with these sentences:
      – I have a friend who do his best…
      – People want him to eat something he don’t eat on a daily basis…
      – He tell them he is allergic…

      Reply
  3. Tanya Avatar
    Tanya

    OMG how could I miss this! Got it!

    A friend who does his best…
    Something he doesn’t eat…
    He tells them

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Haha, that’s it 🙂

      Don’t worry, sometimes the most obvious things are the hardest to spot

      Reply

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