· Your argument falls down when you look at the inflation rate.
· The argument falls down when you take costs into account.
If you 'mark down' a price, you reduce it.
· The shirts have been marked down by 50%.
· Prices have been marked down by 10% across the board.
If things 'quieten down', they become less noisy.
· I am not going to speak until you all quieten down a bit.
· It was very hectic earlier but things have quietened down now.
If you 'tear something down', you pull it with force from a wall or a notice board.
· He tore down the poster that the union had put up.
· Somebody has torn down the safety notice I put up.
If you 'tone down' something, you make it less extreme.
· You need to tone down the language in your letter. It is too hostile.
· We need to tone down the colors on the website. They are too bright.
Emotions Phrasal Verbs
If something 'gets you down', it makes you feel unhappy.
· This uncertainty is beginning to get me down.
· The way everybody keeps complaining really gets me down
If somebody or something makes you feel upset or unhappy, they 'get to' you. This is an informal expression.
· The way he whistles all the time when we are working really gets to me.
· The heat is really getting to me. We need air conditioning.
If something makes you very unhappy, it 'tears you apart'.
· It tears me apart to know that I lost that job because of my own stupidity.
· It would tear me apart if something I said made you leave.
If you are 'put out', you are annoyed.
· I was really put out when he turned down the job.
· He seemed a bit put out that we hadn't invited him to speak.
If you 'cheer up', you start to feel happier.
· Cheer up. Things are not so bad.
· I bought a new Ipod to cheer myself up.
If you 'perk up', you suddenly become happier, cheerful or more energetic. It is also possible to 'perk someone up'.
· Your visit really made him perk up.
· He was being miserable but he perked up when Mary arrived.
If you 'brighten up', you suddenly look or feel happier.
· She brightened up when she heard the good news.
· You need to brighten up. Your long face is putting off the customers.
If you 'liven up', you become more energetic or cheerful. You can also 'liven up' a place, event or person.
· You need to liven up a bit. You're so miserable it is making everybody feel unhappy.
· We need to liven up the party. Everyone looks miserable.
If you 'calm down', you stop feeling angry, upset or excited. It's also possible to 'calm someone down'.
· You need to calm down a bit. You're too excited.
· Calm down. Let me explain.
