turn down

turn down

1. To lower or diminish the intensity of something, such as volume, pressure, brightness, etc. A noun or pronoun can be used between "turn" and "down." Would you mind turning down your radio? It's very distracting. They turned the lights down before the movie started.
2. To dismiss, reject, spurn, or refuse someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "turn" and "down." It broke my heart, but I had to turn down the couple's application down because they didn't meet our lending criteria. I asked her out on a date, but she turned me down. The bosses turned me down for a promotion.
3. To fold something over itself. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "turn" and "down." Make sure you turn down your collar after you tie your necktie. I think beds look nicer when you turn the sheets down at the pillow.
4. To tidy and arrange a bed. In this usage, "bed" or "beds" can be used between "turn" and "down." You'll need to replace customers' towels, empty their waste bins, and turn down their beds. Please turn your bed down after you wake up in the morning.
See also: down, turn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

turn someone down

to issue a refusal to someone. We had to turn Joan down, even though her proposal was okay. We turned down Joan, even though her credentials were good.
See also: down, turn

turn something down

 
1. to bend or fold something down. He turned his coat collar down when he got inside the house. Timmy had turned down his cuffs and caught one of them in his bicycle chain.
2. to decrease the volume of something. Please turn the radio down. Can't you turn down that stereo?
3. to reject something; to deny someone's request. The board turned our request down. She had turned down John's offer of help, too.
See also: down, turn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

turn down

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]
See also: down, turn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

turn down

v.
1. To diminish the speed, volume, intensity, or flow of something by or as if by turning a dial: Turn down the radio, please. He turned down the TV so his roommate could study.
2. To reject or refuse someone or something: I turned down the invitation. We turned them down because their offer was too low.
3. To fold something downward: I turned my collar down. She turned down the flaps on her hat to protect her ears from the cold.
4. To prepare some bed by folding the outer covering down: The hotel maid came in and turned down the bed.
See also: down, turn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • load in
  • involve with
  • involve with (someone or something)
  • involved with
  • arrange for
  • arrange for some time
  • arrange some music for
  • back into
  • back into (someone or something)
  • add in
References in periodicals archive
This still allows them to turn down job offers without losing any of their benefits.
Boksic is the latest big name star to turn down Rangers because of the low opinion of our game.
"I knew Claudio Ranieri from when I played in Spain and I am happy to have the opportunity to play Champions League football - it is something I could not turn down."
However, Warwickshire County Council's Rugby Area Committee, which is meeting tonight, has been advised to turn down the proposals.
Councillors have also been advised to turn down plans for a 30mph speed limit either side of Princethorpe, on the A423.
"However the chance to see guys in the flesh like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson operating at the top of their game is too much to turn down.
RONALDINHO is ready to turn down Chelsea for the second time - but only after he has dumped them out of the Champions League.
ACTRESS Patsy Kensit (below) has revealed her deep regret over her decision to turn down an offer to star in the American hit comedy Friends.
Ricketts (above) said: "The chance of playing in the Championship is something I couldn't turn down."
But what idiocy to turn down the prestigious Brit award, especially when organisers then offered it to Tom Jones - who's had more hits in recent years, is a better performer, commands more respect than Macca now does - and who was thrilled at the honour.
FORMER Dundee United captain Derek McInnes will sign for Millwall after the Londoners made him an offer "too good to turn down".
WAYNE Rooney is set to turn down a new contract with Everton and spark a massive transfer scramble between Chelsea and Manchester United.
But Reid is determined to land his man and the West Ham board will find it difficult to turn down a new pounds 7million offer for the 28-year-old despite insisting he is not for sale.