If an argument 'falls down', it is very weak

· 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.