Unit 142. Phrasal verbs 6. Up / down
Unit 142; Part B

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?
Also be knocked down (by a car etc.)
• A man was knocked down by a car and taken to hospital.
Unit 142; Part C

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 far too much of it.
Unit 142; Part D

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 somebody because you didn't do what they hoped
• You can always rely on Pete. 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 each one.
• 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.
Exercises
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