This document discusses different meanings of phrasal verbs that use the word "down". It categorizes the meanings into downward movement, decrease, and ending/stopping. Some examples of phrasal verbs for each category are given, such as "write down" and "come down" for downward movement, "turn down" and "cut down" for decrease, and "put down" and "turn down" for ending/stopping. The document notes that some phrasal verbs can fit into multiple categories depending on the specific meaning in different contexts.

1. PHRASAL VERBS WITH DOWN

2. Manymeaningsarefigurative.
Somewordsfitmultiplecategories=differentmeanings.
Downward
movement
(lesser or lower)
Decrease
Stopping Ending
Meanings

3. Manymeaningsarefigurative.
Somewordsfitmultiplecategories=differentmeanings.
Different strategy
 Verbs organized by
meaning/category of DOWN
 Same verb = sometimes multiple
categories

4. Downward movement:
Literal
Write down/jot down: I need to grab a
pen so I can jot down your number.
Come down: The prices came down
because the business was closing.
Put something down: I put my coffee
down because I wanted to listen.

5. Downward movement:
Figurative
Back down: Don’t back down when a
bully is talking to you.
Look down on (someone): Don’t look
down on others who are different.
Tear down: Bullies try to tear us down by
telling us negative things about ourselves.

6. Decrease
Turn down (the volume, heat, etc.): It’s
hot. Please turn down the heat.
Cut down (on something): I need to cut
down on sugar.
Settle down: 1. They settled down in the
US. 2. Sometimes kids need to settle
down, especially if they are disruptive.)

7. Decrease
Break down: 1. The teacher broke down
the info. to make it clear. 2. She broke
down when she heard her mom was sick.
Let someone down: She let the team
down when she quit the team.
Feel down, get down, look/appear down:
I feel a little down today, maybe because
it’s so gray outside.

8. Ending/Stopping
Put something down: I put down coffee
for now.
Turn down (something): I turned down
the job offer because I didn’t want to
move.
Break down: When the bus broke down,
she called for help to get home.

9. Ending/Stopping
Track down: He tracked down his
documents to apply for a visa.
Close down: After the quarantine, the
restaurant had to close down.
Tear down: She tore down the poster on
the wall because it was outdated.