turn down an offer

Meaning

To "turn down an offer" means to decline or reject a proposal, invitation, or job opportunity. It is commonly used in professional and business contexts when you decide not to accept something that has been presented to you. This expression is polite but firm, making it suitable for emails, meetings, and negotiations.

Examples

• She decided to turn down an offer from a rival company because the commute was too long.

  She decided to turn down an offer from a rival company because the commute was too long.

• It is never easy to turn down an offer, but you have to do what is best for your career.

  It is never easy to turn down an offer, but you have to do what is best for your career.

• After careful consideration, we had to turn down their offer to buy our startup.

  After careful consideration, we had to turn down their offer to buy our startup.

• If you decide to turn down an offer, make sure to write a polite email thanking them for the opportunity.

  If you decide to turn down an offer, make sure to write a polite email thanking them for the opportunity.

• He had to turn down an offer of promotion because he didn't want to relocate to another city.

  He had to turn down an offer of promotion because he didn't want to relocate to another city.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I had to turn off the job offer because the salary was too low.

  ✓ I had to turn down the job offer because the salary was too low.

  Learners often confuse 'turn off' (which means to stop a device or cause dislike) with 'turn down' (which means to reject or decline).

• ✗ They made me a great proposal, but I turned down it.

  ✓ They made me a great proposal, but I turned it down.

  'Turn down' is a separable phrasal verb. When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', the pronoun must go between 'turn' and 'down'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I had to ___ from the marketing agency because I had already accepted another job.

  💡 Think of a phrasal verb phrase meaning 'to decline a proposal'.

  Show answer

  turn down an offer

• It is always best to be polite and professional when you need to ___.

  💡 This phrase is used when you decide not to accept a job or business proposal.

  Show answer

  turn down an offer