bring down

Separable

The object can go before or after the particle — but a pronoun MUST go in the middle: “clean it up”, never “clean up it”.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: bring DOWN. Saying “BRING down” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

No pause between the words. /ŋ/ runs straight into /d/ — “bring down” is one rhythmic unit with a single stressed beat on the particle.

3 meanings

  1. 1

    To cause something powerful to fall or fail.

    • The scandal brought down the government.
    • A single bug brought the whole site down.

    Similar: topple, overthrow

  2. 2

    To make someone feel sad.

    • Don't let one bad review bring you down.

    Similar: depress

  3. 3

    To reduce a level or a price.

    • We need to bring costs down before the next quarter.

    Similar: reduce, lower

The particle logic

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More BRING phrasal verbs

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bring down — meaning, examples & how to say it