What Does “Vote sth down” Mean?
“Vote sth down” means to reject or refuse a proposal, idea, or motion by voting against it.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “vote sth down” is commonly used when people or groups make decisions through voting. It refers to the act of rejecting something by the majority of votes. Understanding the vote sth down meaning helps you follow discussions in meetings, politics, and everyday decisions. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal contexts. When you hear that a proposal was “voted down,” it means it was not accepted or approved by the group.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: vote something down
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to reject something by voting against it
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Vote sth down” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) between “vote” and “down” or after “down.”
- Vote the proposal down.
- Vote down the proposal.
Both are correct and commonly used. Use the object (sth) to refer to what is being rejected.
How to Use Vote sth down?
Use “vote sth down” when talking about decisions made by a group through voting. It often involves formal settings like meetings, councils, or committees but can also be used in casual group decisions. The phrase emphasizes that the majority did not agree with the idea or proposal.
Examples
When the team suggested extending the deadline, the members voted the idea down. This means the majority disagreed.
- The council voted down the new law yesterday.
- Our proposal to increase the budget was voted down by the board.
- They voted down the plan to build a new park in the neighborhood.
- During the meeting, several members voted down the suggestion to change the schedule.
- The committee voted down the motion for extra holidays this year.
These examples show how to use “vote sth down in a sentence” naturally.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse the word order or use “vote down” without an object, which can sound incomplete.
- Incorrect: They voted down.
- Correct: They voted the proposal down.
- Incorrect: We vote down it.
- Correct: We voted it down.
Always include the object and place it correctly in the sentence.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “reject,” “turn down,” and “dismiss.” However, “vote sth down” specifically involves a voting process, while others can be used more generally.
- Reject: To refuse something, no voting implied.
- Turn down: To refuse or decline, often used in personal or informal contexts.
- Dismiss: To decide not to consider or accept something.
“Vote sth down” focuses on group decision-making by voting, making it more formal and specific.
Common Collocations
Some common objects used with “vote sth down” include proposals, motions, plans, bills, and suggestions. These words often appear in formal or official contexts.
- Proposal: A formal suggestion or plan.
- Motion: A formal proposal put to a vote.
- Plan: A detailed proposal for doing something.
- Bill: A draft of a law presented for approval.
- Suggestion: An idea or recommendation.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of vote sth down:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “vote sth down”:
Anna: Did the committee accept the new budget?
Mark: No, they voted the budget down. Too many people thought it was too high.
Anna: Oh, I see. What will they do next?
Mark: They will revise it and vote again next week.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) They voted down the proposal.
- B) They voted the proposal down.
- C) They voted down.
- D) Both A and B are correct.
Answer: D) Both A and B are correct.
FAQ
- What does “vote sth down” mean? It means to reject something by voting against it.
- Can I say “vote down” without an object? No, you need to include what is being voted down.
- Is “vote sth down” formal or informal? It is mostly used in formal or semi-formal contexts.
- Can “vote sth down” be used in everyday conversations? Yes, especially when talking about group decisions.
- What is the difference between “vote sth down” and “reject”? “Vote sth down” involves a voting process; “reject” does not.
