Turn down the speed! | EWR Podcast

The verb “turn” is probably one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language. There are a lot of expressions with this word. In this lesson I’d like to tell you about some of them.

The verb turn in English

Hi everyone,

The verb “turn” is probably one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language. There are a lot of expressions with this word. In this lesson I’d like to tell you about some of them.

As always you can read the text version of this video lesson in PDF format. Follow our podcasts on Yandex Music and iTunes. All the links in the description. 

Here we go!

To turn up

One of the meanings of this phrasal verb is “to increase”.

For example

Turn up the sound, please! I want to listen to the News.

(Пожалуйста, увеличь звук! Я хочу послушать новости);

Could you turn up the pressure?

(Ты мог бы увеличить давление?)

To turn up can also mean “to arrive/come – прибывать, приезжать”

For example

We turned up last week.

(Мы приехали на прошлой неделе.);

When will your family turn up?

(Когда приедет твоя семья?)

The next meaning is “to find something”.

For example

Look, Mary! I turned up your earring on the floor!

(Смотри, Мэри! Я нашел твою сережку на полу!);

What do you think? Can I turn up a job here?

(Как думаешь? Я смогу найти здесь работу?)

To turn down 

This phrasal verb means “to decrease”

Decrease — уменьшить, снизить

For example:

Turn down the speed! You are driving too fast!

(Понизь скорость! Ты едешь слишком быстро!);

I think we need to turn down the level of water.

(Я думаю нам нужно снизить уровень воды)

Another meaning of this phrase is to refuse something, or to refuse someone’s request: 

The bank turned her down for a loan. 

Банк отказал ей в кредите.

Why did you turn down the job?

Почему вы отказались от работы?

I’m sorry Kate! I have to turn you down! 

Мне жаль Кейт! Я вынужден отказать вам!

Turn around 

To turn around means to move in a different direction or to move into a different position.

to turn around – поворачиваться, вращаться

For example:

Stop turning around! Game over!

(Перестань вращаться! Игра окончена!);

This wheel is turning around very fast.

(Это колесо вращается очень быстро);

One more meaning of this phrasal verb is to change a plan, business, or system that is unsuccessful and make it successful

менять что-либо к лучшему

We hope you can turn your life around for the better.

(Мы надеемся, что ты можешь изменить свою жизнь к лучшему.)

Turn back 

To turn back means to go back in the direction from which one has come.

вернуться, вернуть, повернуть назад

For example:

They turned back before reaching the church

Они повернули назад, не дойдя до церкви

or to make someone or something go back

Police turned back hundreds of cars

Полиция развернула сотни автомобилей

Turn over 

To turn over means to change the position.

переворачиваться, переходить на другую сторону

She turned over and went back to sleep.

Она перевернулась и снова легла спать.

Turn over! Now our team is changing its position.

Переходи! Теперь наш команда меняет позицию.