ENGLISH
REFERENCE

argue down

phr. v..
C1 Advanced Oxford

phr. v.. to persuade someone to lower the price of something or to defeat someone's argument by being more logical or forceful.

phr. v.. to overcome an opponent in a debate or to successfully negotiate a reduction in price through persistent argument.


SIMPLE

I managed to argue him down to fifty dollars.

CONTEXTUAL

The street vendor wanted twenty euros, but she managed to argue him down to ten.

COMPLEX

The defense attorney systematically argued down every point raised by the prosecution until the jury was visibly unconvinced.

Particles
down
Separability
optional
Pattern
argue + object + down
Usage

usually takes a person as the direct object when referring to price negotiation or a debate.

Teaching tip

highlight the two distinct contexts: financial negotiation (haggling) and intellectual debate (defeating an opponent's logic).

Pitfall

I argued down the price to him.I argued him down on the price.the person being persuaded is typically the direct object placed between the verb and the particle.

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