To "turn up" is to get drunk and/or high, party, and forget about life for awhile. To "turn down" would be to get serious, go to work, and deal with reality.

Turn Down For What (the song) is a social commentary making the point that many people -- especially in "the hood" -- feel that even if they do "turn down" and do everything society expects of them, the deck is still so stacked against them that their lives still will not improve.

So why bother to turn down, if there's nothing to turn down for?
We shouldn't waste our lives turning up constantly. Maybe we should turn down.

Turn down for what? What's the point? I might as well just make myself feel good and enjoy living for the moment.
by Rubric77 May 27, 2019
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an annoying song that doesn't really say anything. It repeats the same phrase over and over. It has a slightly catchy beat and that is about all.
Person: Writing music is really hard, I don't think I will ever write a song.

Producer: Bullshit, just look at that song turn down for what! All you have to do is make a beat and repeat yourself for 4-5 minutes.
by MrHobbes69 June 22, 2014
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rhetorical question used by teenagers. "turn up" is the act of getting drunk and high and being reckless so "turn down" would mean sobering up. turn down for what is really saying i am fucked up and will continue to be all night no matter what. the only appropriate answer to this question would be "nothing"
Johnny: turn down for what ?!
Ben: The cops and my dad.
Johnny: You're a pussy! TURN DOWN FOR NOTHING
by Blair Waldourf October 15, 2013
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It is a phrase modern day teenagers utilize mainly on the weekends to express their genuine excitement for the upcoming events. Such events include binge drinking copious amounts of alcohol and smoking various kinds of hallucinogenics such as "blow" and "weed." All of which could lead to you possibly causing a chain reaction of people humping, trashing, and even thrashing of the numerous objects in the room and even crashing the ceiling of your apartment complex until the bottom floor. When using the phrase, be sure to proceed with caution and the resulting damage caused by turning down could lead to expensive lawsuits of undocumented aliens and even substance abuse.
Darshan was very excited for the weekend so he asked Jamal "turn down for what?"
by Dj Snake August 7, 2014
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