Mark sb down Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Mark sb down” Mean?

“Mark sb down” means to reduce the price of something for someone or to write a note about someone’s behavior or performance. It can also mean to record or make a note of a person.

Introduction

The phrase “Mark sb down” has several meanings depending on the context. Most commonly, it is used in shopping and sales to mean lowering the price of an item for a customer. For example, a shop assistant might mark a product down to offer a discount. Another use is in a more figurative sense, where it means to write down a note about someone’s actions or behavior, often in a formal or official way. Understanding the “Mark sb down meaning” helps English learners use this phrase accurately in different situations. This article explains its uses, grammar, examples, common mistakes, and more.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Mark somebody down (mark sb down)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To reduce the price or to record a note about someone

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Mark sb down” is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it always needs an object (someone or something). It is separable when referring to price reduction, so you can say:

• Mark the price down
• Mark down the price

When referring to making a note about someone, it is usually inseparable:

• Mark someone down for their behavior (correct)
• Mark down someone for their behavior (less common)

How to Use “Mark sb down”?

This phrase is commonly used in retail when a seller reduces the price of an item for a customer. For example, a shop assistant may say, “I’ll mark that dress down for you.” It is also used in schools or workplaces where a teacher or supervisor might “mark someone down” for poor performance or behavior, meaning they record a negative note or score.

Examples

Here are some examples that show how to use “Mark sb down” in sentences:

• The store manager decided to mark the TVs down by 20% to clear stock.
• Because of his late submission, the teacher marked him down on the assignment.
• They marked down the price of the shoes during the sale.
• Don’t get marked down for missing the meeting again.
• She was marked down in her report for poor attendance.

These sentences show “Mark sb down” being used both for price reduction and noting someone’s performance.

Common Mistakes

People often confuse how to use “Mark sb down,” especially when separating the verb and object. Here are some examples of incorrect and correct usage:

• Incorrect: Mark down she for being late.
• Correct: Mark her down for being late.
• Incorrect: Mark down the customer price.
• Correct: Mark the customer’s price down.

Remember, when referring to a person, use the object immediately after “mark,” but when referring to price, you can separate “mark” and “down.”

Differences / Synonyms

“Mark sb down” can be similar to other phrasal verbs like “write down,” “note down,” or “discount.” However, there are important differences:

• Write down / Note down: Only means to record information, not to reduce prices or criticize behavior.
• Discount / Reduce: Specifically about lowering prices, but they don’t imply making a note about behavior.
• Mark sb down: Can mean both reducing prices and recording a negative note about someone.

Common Collocations

Here are typical words used with “Mark sb down” and what they mean:

• Price: To reduce the cost of an item.
• Score: To reduce points or marks given to someone.
• Behavior: To note negative actions or conduct.
• Assignment: To reduce marks on a school task.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of mark sb down:

• Mark Sb Off
• Mark Sth Off
• Mark Sth Down
• Mark Sb Out
• Mark Sb Down As Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “Mark sb down”:

Customer: Is this jacket on sale?

Shop assistant: Yes, I can mark it down by 15% for you today.

Customer: Great! That helps a lot. Thank you.

Teacher: I had to mark him down because he missed several deadlines.

Practice

Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “mark sb down”:

• The manager decided to ______ the price ______ to attract more buyers.
• She was ______ down for arriving late to class.
• Don’t get ______ down for small mistakes; keep trying!

FAQs

• Q: Can “mark sb down” only be used for prices?
  A: No, it can also mean recording a note about someone’s behavior or performance.
• Q: Is “mark sb down” formal or informal?
  A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the situation.
• Q: Can I say “mark down someone”?
  A: It’s less common and often incorrect. The correct form is “mark someone down.”
• Q: What is the difference between “mark sb down” and “write down”?
  A: “Mark sb down” can mean reducing price or noting behavior; “write down” only means to record information.
• Q: Can “mark sb down” be used in negative feedback?
  A: Yes, it often refers to noting poor performance or behavior.