The phrase "were down out" consists of three words that represent different sounds. The first word, "were" is spelled with the /w/ and /ɜr/ sounds, represented respectively as /w/ and /ɜr/. The second word, "down", uses the /d/ sound represented as /d/, and the /aʊ/ sound represented as /aʊ/, while the final word, "out", uses the /aʊ/ sound and the /t/ sound, represented as /aʊ/ and /t/. Together, these words represent a phrase that can convey a sense of defeat or exhaustion.