SAYING
DECLINE-verb(formal)
topolitelyturndownanofferoran invitation,oftenduetocircumstancesor lackofinterest.
Ideclinedtheinvitationtotheparty becauseIhadotherplans.
Iinvitedhimtothemeetingbuthe declined.
Hedeclinedmyoffer.
[+toinfinitive]
Theydeclinedtotellmehowtheyhad obtainedmyaddress.
DENY-verb
tonotallowsomeonetohaveordo something:
Herrequestfortimeoffworkwas denied.
Agoodeducationshouldbedeniedto noone.
[+twoobjects]
Thegoalkeeperdeniedhimhisthird goal.
Iwasdeniedtheopportunityof learningFrenchatschool.
REFUSE-verb REJECT-verb
tosaythatyouwillnotdooraccept something:
Irefusedtotakepartintheunethical businesspractices.
Heaskedmetogivehimanotherloan, butIrefused.
[+toinfinitive]
Oncoldmorningsthecaralways refusestostart.
[+twoobjects]
Thelocalcouncilrefusedhimplanning permissiontobuildanextrabedroom.
TURNDOWN-phrasalverb
torefusetoaccept,use,orbelieve somethingorsomeone:
Theeditorrejectedmymanuscript becauseitdidn'tmeettheircriteria.
Theappealwasrejectedbythecourt.
Iappliedforajobasamechanicina localgarage,butIwasrejected.
rejectsomeoneforsomething
Thecoachrejectedhimforthefirst team.
Thecompanyrejectedherforthejob becauseshedidn'thavetherequired experience.
torefuseanofferorrequest,oftenwithanegativeconnotationorbecauseitgoes againstone'sinterestsorpreferences.
Thecompanyturneddowntheproposalbecauseitwasnotprofitableenough.
Heturneddownthejobbecauseitinvolvedtoomuchtravelling.
Sheaskedhimout,butheturnedherdown.