turn down

British  

verb

1. to reduce (the volume or brightness) of (something)

   turn the radio down

2. to reject or refuse

3. to fold down (a collar, sheets on a bed, etc)

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adjective

1. (prenominal) capable of being or designed to be folded or doubled down

turn down Idioms  

1. Fold or double down, as in They always turn down your bed here , or Turn down your collar . [c. 1600]

2. Invert, as in She turned down her cards , or They turn down the glasses in the cupboard . [Mid-1700s]

3. Reject, fail to accept, as in They turned down his proposal , or Joe was turned down at four schools before he was finally accepted . [Late 1800s]

4. Diminish in volume, brightness, or speed. For example, Please turn down the radio; it's too loud , or They turned down the lights and began to dance . [Second half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

In that case, the physician’s duty is clear: Turn down the money and tell the patient no.

From Slate • Aug. 20, 2024

Turn down the crowd mic with its fake “excitement” noise so we can hear the call of the game!

From Seattle Times • May 28, 2023

Turn down the temperature with the Department of Justice, Kise — a former Florida solicitor general — counseled his famously combative client, people familiar with the deliberations said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2022

“Turn up the music / Turn down the lights / I’ve got a feeling / I’m gon’ be all right / OK, all right, it’s about damn time,” she sings along to bouncy choreography.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2022

"Turn down that mattress, mister," commanded Mr. Judson, pointing to Dick Prescott's iron cot.

From Dick Prescott's First Year at West Point by Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)

Related Words

• dismiss
• rebuff
• refuse
• spurn