turndown
C1Neutral to formal; professional (esp. in hotel/business contexts).
Definition
Meaning
The act of refusing or rejecting something.
1) A service in hotels where bed sheets are neatly folded back for the night; 2) A decline or downturn, especially in business or economic activity; 3) The part of something that is folded down.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it primarily refers to a rejection (offer/job/proposal) or a specific hotel service. The 'decline' sense is less common. As a verb phrase ('turn down'), it is the more frequent usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The hotel 'turndown service' is equally understood. 'Turndown' as a standalone noun for 'rejection' is slightly more common in American business/journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties for the hotel/service context. Slightly more formal/technical when referring to economic decline.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency as a noun. The phrasal verb 'turn down' is high frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
receive a turndowngive a turndownpolitely decline (synonymous verb phrase)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get the turndown”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal notification that a proposal, application, or offer has not been accepted.
Academic
Rare. Possibly in economics for 'downturn'.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in the context of a rejected invitation or job offer.
Technical
In hospitality, a specific nightly service.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He had to turn down the invitation due to a prior commitment.
- The council turned down the planning application.
American English
- She turned down the job offer in California.
- The board turned down the merger proposal.
adjective
British English
- A turndown collar on a shirt is less formal.
- The device has a turndown flap for protection.
American English
- He prefers shirts with a turndown collar.
- The turndown rim on the mug prevents spills.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I got a turndown from the university.
- The hotel offers a free turndown service with chocolates.
- After three job interviews, the polite turndown email was still disappointing.
- The turndown of the peace plan led to renewed tensions.
- The sudden turndown in the property market caught many investors off guard.
- Her gracious handling of the turndown impressed the hiring manager.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bed sheet being TURNED DOWN for sleep, or a job offer being TURNED DOWN (rejected) – both involve a downward motion.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS A DOWNWARD MOTION (to turn down).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'поворот' (a physical turn). For the noun, focus on 'отказ'. The hotel term is often calqued as 'сервис 'подготовки ко сну''.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'turndown' as a verb (it's a noun; the verb is the phrasal verb 'to turn down').
- Confusing 'economic turndown' with the more standard 'downturn'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'turndown' most specifically and correctly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal, especially in written business communication ('received a turndown'). In hospitality, it's a standard technical term.
It's understood but 'downturn', 'decline', or 'drop' are more common and natural collocations for economic contexts.
'Turndown' often implies a formal, polite refusal of an offer, invitation, or application. 'Rejection' is broader and can be more personal or harsh.
No. The correct verb form is the separable phrasal verb 'to turn down' (e.g., 'I turned it down'). 'Turndown' is a noun or adjective.