he turns down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he turns down" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is rejecting or declining an offer, request, or invitation. Example: "He turns down the job offer because it didn't meet his salary expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He turns down alloffers.

The New Yorker

He turns down every offer.

The New York Times

With rare exceptions, he turns down offers of overt sponsorship.

The New Yorker

These he turns down lest they expire midoperation.

The New York Times

He turns down a job maybe once a year.

The New Yorker

He accepts more suggestions than he turns down.

The New Yorker

Every day, he said, he turns down job applications.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

He turned down the offers.

The New York Times - Tech

He turned down Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The New York Times

He turned down Arizona.

The New York Times

He turned down Manchester City to join United.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he turns down" when you want to convey a simple rejection or refusal of something offered. Consider synonyms like "he declines" or "he rejects" for a more formal tone.

Common error

Ensure the object being refused is clearly stated after "he turns down". Ambiguity can arise if the context doesn't clearly indicate what is being rejected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he turns down" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of rejecting or refusing something. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a common expression used to describe someone declining an offer or proposal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he turns down" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that someone is rejecting an offer or proposal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It maintains a neutral tone, making it appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While synonyms like "he declines" or "he rejects" may offer a more formal or stronger sense of refusal, "he turns down" remains a versatile and widely understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he declines

Replaces "turns down" with the more formal synonym "declines".

he rejects

Uses "rejects" which implies a stronger refusal than "turns down".

he refuses

Suggests a firm decision not to accept something.

he says no to

A more informal way of expressing refusal.

he passes up

Indicates that he is missing an opportunity by not accepting something.

he dismisses

Implies he considers something not worthy of attention or acceptance.

he forgoes

Indicates that he is choosing to give something up.

he spurns

A more literary term for rejecting something with disdain.

he vetoes

Suggests an authoritative rejection.

he opts out of

Suggests a voluntary decision not to participate.

FAQs

What does "he turns down" mean?

The phrase "he turns down" means that someone is rejecting or refusing an offer, request, or proposal.

What can I say instead of "he turns down"?

You can use alternatives like "he declines", "he rejects", or "he refuses" depending on the context.

Is "he turns down" formal or informal?

"He turns down" is generally considered neutral in tone. For more formal situations, consider using "he declines".

How to use "he turns down" in a sentence?

Example: "He turns down the job offer because the salary was too low."