PUT DOWN ↑ Categories
Meaning: To place something on a surface, criticize someone, end an animal's suffering
"Please put down that heavy box on the table."
"He always puts down her ideas in meetings."
💡 Usage Tip:
Context determines meaning: physical placement, criticism, or euthanasia.
PUT UP ↑ Categories
Meaning: To construct, hang something, provide accommodation, tolerate
"They're going to put up a new building here."
"Can you put me up for the night?"
💡 Usage Tip:
Very versatile: building, hanging, accommodating, or tolerating.
PUT ON ↑ Categories
Meaning: To wear clothes, pretend, organize an event, gain weight
"Put on your coat - it's cold outside."
"She's just putting on an act to get attention."
💡 Usage Tip:
One of the most common phrasal verbs with multiple meanings.
PUT IN ↑ Categories
Meaning: To install, invest time/effort, make a formal request
"We need to put in a new kitchen sink."
"I put in 10 hours of work on this project."
💡 Usage Tip:
Often used for effort, installation, or formal applications.
PUT AWAY ↑ Categories
Meaning: To store something in its proper place, imprison
"Please put away your toys after playing."
"The criminal was put away for 10 years."
💡 Usage Tip:
Usually means organizing, but can mean imprisonment in legal contexts.
PUT BACK ↑ Categories
Meaning: To return something to its original place, postpone
"Put back the book where you found it."
"The meeting was put back until next week."
💡 Usage Tip:
Can mean physical replacement or time postponement.
PUT FORWARD ↑ Categories
Meaning: To suggest or propose an idea, advance time
"I'd like to put forward a new proposal."
"Don't forget to put forward your clocks tonight."
💡 Usage Tip:
Formal way to present ideas or advance clock time.
PUT ACROSS ↑ Categories
Meaning: To communicate an idea clearly and effectively
"She really knows how to put across her ideas."
"It's hard to put across complex concepts simply."
💡 Usage Tip:
Emphasizes successful communication and understanding.
PUT THROUGH ↑ Categories
Meaning: To connect a phone call, subject someone to an experience
"Can you put me through to the manager?"
"They put him through intensive training."
💡 Usage Tip:
Common in phone conversations and describing difficult experiences.
PUT IN TOUCH ↑ Categories
Meaning: To help people establish contact with each other
"I can put you in touch with a good lawyer."
"Let me put you in touch with my contacts."
💡 Usage Tip:
Essential for networking and making connections.
PUT OFF ↑ Categories
Meaning: To postpone, discourage someone from doing something
"Let's put off the meeting until tomorrow."
"The bad weather put us off going to the beach."
💡 Usage Tip:
Very common for delays and when things become unappealing.
PUT ASIDE ↑ Categories
Meaning: To save money, ignore differences, stop doing something temporarily
"I put aside money every month for vacation."
"Let's put aside our differences and work together."
💡 Usage Tip:
Often used for saving money or temporarily ignoring issues.
PUT ON HOLD ↑ Categories
Meaning: To pause or delay something, make someone wait on the phone
"The project was put on hold due to budget cuts."
"Please hold while I put you on hold."
💡 Usage Tip:
Business and phone contexts for temporary suspension.
PUT UP WITH ↑ Categories
Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant
"I can't put up with this noise anymore."
"She puts up with a lot from her difficult boss."
💡 Usage Tip:
Implies patience with annoying or difficult situations.
PUT BEHIND ↑ Categories
Meaning: To forget about past problems, move on from something
"It's time to put that argument behind us."
"She's finally put her past mistakes behind her."
💡 Usage Tip:
Used for emotional healing and moving forward.
PUT TOGETHER ↑ Categories
Meaning: To assemble, organize, create by combining parts
"Can you help me put together this furniture?"
"She put together a great presentation."
💡 Usage Tip:
Very common for assembly and organization tasks.
PUT INTO PRACTICE ↑ Categories
Meaning: To apply knowledge or theory in real situations
"Now let's put this theory into practice."
"It's hard to put these ideas into practice."
💡 Usage Tip:
Academic and professional contexts for applying learning.
PUT TO WORK ↑ Categories
Meaning: To use something effectively, make someone start working
"Let's put this new software to work."
"The new manager put everyone to work immediately."
💡 Usage Tip:
About utilizing resources or starting productive activity.
PUT OUT ↑ Categories
Meaning: To extinguish a fire, publish, inconvenience someone
"The firefighters put out the fire quickly."
"I hope I'm not putting you out by asking this favor."
💡 Usage Tip:
Multiple meanings: extinguishing, publishing, or causing trouble.
PUT PRESSURE ON ↑ Categories
Meaning: To try to influence or force someone to do something
"The deadline is putting pressure on the team."
"Don't put pressure on him to make a decision."
💡 Usage Tip:
Often about stress, deadlines, or attempting to influence.
PUT AT EASE ↑ Categories
Meaning: To make someone feel comfortable and relaxed
"Her friendly smile put me at ease immediately."
"The doctor's explanation put the patient at ease."
💡 Usage Tip:
Used for reducing anxiety and creating comfort.
🌱 Continue Learning!
You've explored the PUT family! Ready for more phrasal verbs?