lower /'1эоэг/ [f T] to reduce an amount,
limit, or level - used especially in writing about business or technical subjects: After 20 minutes, lower the temperature to
200 degrees. I The Bundesbank is under pressure to lower interest rates.
turn down /,t3irn 'daun/ [phrasal verb T|
to reduce the level of sound, heat, or light, by turning a control
turn sth down Could you turn the TV down a little?
turn down sth The weather wasn't as cold, so we decided to turn down the central heating.
cut down /kAt daun/ [phrasal verb I] to reduce the amount of food that you eat, alcohol that you drink, or cigarettes that you smoke-. If you can't give up smoking, at least try to cut cfoiun. + on Tve cut down on the amount of
meat I eat.
lessen /'les^n/ [и T] formal to make a pain less severe, or make an unpleasant feeling less bad: Drugs can be used to lessen the pain. I We tried to be sympathetic, but nothing could lessen his disappointment.
a reduction in numbers, prices, levels etc
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reduction /n'dAkpn/ [n C] when a price, level etc is reduced - use this when something is reduced deliberately: We offer a reduction for groups of 10 or more.
+ in Cleaner fuel has contributed to a reduction in air pollution. I a reduction in working hours
reduction of Ј10/$5/25% etc (=a reduc tion by a particular amount) There were
reductions oj up to 50% in some stores.
decrease /'dukriis/ [л Cj when something happens less than it used to + in There has been a 15% decrease in violent crime. (=it has gone down by 15%) a significant/marked decrease (=when something happens much less than it used to) a significant decrease in the number of deaths from heart disease
drop/fall /drop, fo:J||dra:p/ [n singular)
when a number or amount goes down
suddenly or by a large amount + in Charities have reported a 25% fall in donations during the past year. (=donations have gone down by 25%) I a sudden drop in the number of student
nurses
a sharp fall/drop (=when an amount goes down very suddenly) a sharp fall in profits
A Don't say 'a drop of the birthrate' or 'a fall of the birthrate'. Say a drop in the birthrate or a fail in the birthrate.
>
cut /кAt/ \n C] a reduction in the amount or size of something made by a government or large organization - use this especially for talking about politics or business + in Cuts in the education budget have led to fewer teachers ancf larger classes. pay/job/tax cuts (=cuts in wages, number of jobs, or taxes) Nurses are protesting
about further pay cuts. ( The new management has promised that there will be no job cuts.
LET
m see also в permission,
U3 SUGGESTIONS, CAN/CAN'T
II to let someone do something
let /let/ ju T not in passive] We wanted to go camping, but our parents wouldn't let us.
let sb do stk Sue never lets her children eat candy. I Thank you for letting me borrow your car.
let sb in/out (=Iet someone go in or out of a place) Let me in! It's cold out here!
letting - let - have let
AS. Don't say 'let me to borrow the car' or
'let me borrowing the car'. Say let me borrow the car.
allow /э'1аи/ [и Tj if someone such as a teacher, official, or parent allows someone to do something, they let them do it allow sb to do sth We do not allow people to smoke anywhere in the building. I What time was he allowed to go home?
allow sb sth (=allow them to have it) We allow passengers one item of hand luggage each.
allow sb in/out etc (-allow someone to go into or go out of a place) The manager doesn't allow children in the bar.
Allow is more formal than let
Qsay sb can do sth /,sei (sb) кэп du: (sth)/ especially spoken to tell someone that you will allow them to do something: Mum says I can go to the party. I / thought you said we could use this
room.
give permission /,giv рэг,гшрп/ if
someone such as an official, teacher, or manager gives permission, they say that someone is officially allowed to do something
give sb permission to do stk Who gave you permission to leave class early? I The pilot was given permission to land at Rome airport.
+/or The police have refused to give permission for a peace march through the centre of town.
A Don't say 'she gave us a permission' or j 'she gave us the permission', just say she i gave us permission. !
1 — _ ^ _ I
agree to sth /a'gri: tu: (sth)/ [phrasal verb T1 to decide to allow someone to do something because you have been persuaded to allow it: I'd like to go camping with my boyfriend but my parents would
LET
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never agree to it.
to be allowed to do something
can кэп; strong к;сг) [modal uerb\ to be allowed to do something: Now that you're seventeen, you con learn to drive. I Can Jean stay at our house tonight? I You can't park there. i—————— - — — -
; /t\ Only use can in the present tense. The | infinitive form of can is to be able to: When you're 18, you'll be able to vote. It you ! want to say that someone was allowed to i do something on one occasion in the past, use be a I lowed^ After being questioned by the police, he was allowed to leave.
Don't say 'you can to park here'. Say you can park here-
be allowed 'bi: a'laod/ to be allowed to
do something, especially because a rule or
law says you can do it
be allowed to do sth Are we allowed to
use calculators in the test?
sth is allowed Swimming is only
allowed in the roped-off area of the lake.
be allowed in/out/oJJ/on etc (=be allowed
to go in, out, off etc) No-one u?as alloioed
off the plane at Harare.
A\ When talking about something that someone was allowed to do on one occasion in the past, use was allowed to not 'could'. Don't say 'he could leave at