Cool MateBring it down vs Lower
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bring it down
Top 2,000 (common)
Lower
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Lower
| Bring it down | Lower | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //brɪŋ ɪt daʊn//🇺🇸 //brɪŋ ɪt daʊn// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈləʊə(r)/","/ˈləʊəz/","/ˈləʊəd/","/ˈləʊərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈləʊər/","/ˈləʊərz/","/ˈləʊərd/","/ˈləʊərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To lower something, usually in volume or intensity. | to make something less high or to decrease it |
| Example | Could you bring it down a little? It's too loud. | The manager decided to lower the prices to attract more customers. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | bring it down a notch, bring the volume down, bring it down to earth | carefully, gently, gradually, into, onto, to, carefully, gently, gradually, into, onto, to |
| Antonyms | - | raise, increase, elevate |
| Common mistakes | Using 'bring down' without 'it' in informal contexts., Confusing with 'take down' which often refers to removing something rather than lowering it., Forgetting to specify what to bring down. | Confused with 'lowered' when describing past actions., Incorrectly using 'lower' as an adjective instead of a verb., Mistaking 'lower' for 'less' in some contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'bring it down' when referring to lowering volume or intensity. Usually informal but appropriate in most contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. | Use 'lower' when referring to reducing something physically or metaphorically. It’s appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in overly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bring it down vs Lower
What's the difference between Bring it down and Lower?
Bring it down: To lower something, usually in volume or intensity. Lower: to make something less high or to decrease it
Which is more common: Bring it down and Lower?
Lower is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Bring it down: Could you bring it down a little? It's too loud. Lower: The manager decided to lower the prices to attract more customers.
Can I use Bring it down and Lower interchangeably?
Not always. Bring it down and Lower are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.