Phrasal Verbs

Unit 4.4 - "Down" meaning "Defeating" or "Collapsing"

Guess the meanings of the phrasal verbs from context:
- Finally realizing that he was wrong, he backed down and even apologized.
- People are rioting on the streets trying to bring down their government.
- The police should do more to crack down on speeding.
- The U.K. government vowed to hunt down the terrorists who bombed their subways and buses.
- The boxer punched his opponent again and again and finally knocked him down.
- Working irregular hours and work-related stress wore him down. He looked really tired.
All these phrasal verbs have the meaning of "defeating" or "collapsing". See Explanations ê
Explanations:

Back down (inseparable)	To admit that you are wrong; to retreat from a position in an argument >>He is a stubborn person. He won't *back down* even though he is wrong.
Bring down (separable)	To cause someone in power to fall; to topple someone >>George W. Bush is determined to *bring down* the Iraqi government.
Crack down (on) (inseparable)	To deal with something more strictly and firmly >>The police are *cracking down* on child pornography. >>The school is trying to *crack down* on illegal drug use by students.
Hunt down (separable)	To search for someone, usually in order to kill or punish them >>The U.S. army is still trying to hunt down Osama Bin Laden.
Knock down (separable)	To demolish >>They plan to *knock down* the old factory and build a cinema in its place. Similar: Pull down To cause someone to fall down by pushing or hitting them >>He hit his opponent so hard that he knocked him *down*.
Wear down (separable)	To make someone feel tired >>The hot weather really wears me down.

Exercise:
- Complete the following sentences using a suitable phrasal verb:
  - I am exhausted! The long and sometimes confrontational negotiation has me .
  - I want to that wall to make the living room bigger.
  - He is determined to the murderer who killed his son.
  - This year, the government is trying to on drinking and driving.
  - High unemployment and crime rates finally the government.
  - After a heated argument, he finally on the question of legalizing marijuana.

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