Definition of put in Oxford Dictionaries (British & World English)

put about

Nautical (of a ship) turn on the opposite tack.

put someone about

chiefly Scottish & Northern English upset or trouble someone.

put something about

British spread information or rumours: the rumour had been deliberately put about by the authorities

put something across (or over)

communicate something effectively: our group must put across its views and gain popular support

put something aside

1save money for future use: we have a little bit put aside in the bank

2forget or disregard something, typically a feeling or a past difference of opinion: the rival firms put aside their differences

put someone away

informal confine someone in a prison or psychiatric hospital:he deserves to be put away forever

put something away

1save money for future use: I put away some money every week

2 informal consume food or drink in large quantities: Did you see how much food he put away?

3 informal (in sport) dispatch or score a goal or shot: I put away his lob

put something back

reschedule a planned event to a later time or date: they have put back the film’s release date to September

delay something:greater public control may put back the modernization of the industry

put something by

chiefly Britishanother way of saying put something aside (sense 1 phrasalVerbs) above).

put someone down

1 informal criticize someone: he put me down in front of my own employees stop putting yourself down

2British lay a baby down to sleep.

put something down

1record something in writing:he’s putting a few thoughts down on paper
make a recording of a piece of music: I’ll put a load of drum loops down

2suppress a rebellion, coup, or riot by force: the security forces put down a coup attempt in the capital

3kill an animal because it is sick, injured, or old: the horse’s condition deteriorated and he was put down

4pay a specified sum as a deposit:he put a thousand down and paid the rest over six months

5preserve or store food or wine for future use: I put down twelve quarts of pickles the claret was put down for ageing

6 (also put down) land an aircraft: Shelton put the plane safely down on a taxiway the pilot had to put down in a field

put someone down as

consider or judge someone or something to be:I’d have put you down as a Vivaldi man

put someone down for

enter someone’s name on a list as wishing to do, join, or subscribe to (something):he put his son down for Eton

put something down to

attribute something to:if I forget anything, put it down to old age

put someone forward

recommend someone as a suitable candidate for a job or position:he put me forward as head of publicity

put something forward

submit a plan, proposal, or theory for consideration: the authority put forward positive proposals

put in

[with direct speech] interrupt in a conversation or discussion:‘But you’re a sybarite, Roger,’ put in Isobel

put something in/into

1present or submit something formally:the airport had put in a claim for damages
(put in for) chiefly British apply formally for:Adam put in for six months' leave

2devote time or effort to (something):employed mothers put in the longest hours of all women

3invest money or resources in: the government are unwilling to put more money into training

put someone off

1cancel or postpone an appointment with someone:he’d put off Martin until nine o’clock

2cause someone to lose interest or enthusiasm:she wanted to be a nurse, but the thought of night shifts put her off
cause someone to feel dislike or distrust:she had a coldness that just put me off

3distract someone:don’t put me off—I’m trying to concentrate

put something off

postpone something:they can’t put off a decision much longer

put someone on

informal tease or playfully deceive someone.

put something on

1place a garment, jewellery, etc. on part of one’s body:Juliet had put on a cotton dress she put on fresh make-up

2cause a device to operate:shall I put the light on?
start to play recorded music or a video: she put on some music while they ate

3organize or present a play, exhibition, or event: the museum is putting on an exhibition of Monet’s paintings
provide a public transport service:so many people wanted to visit this spot that an extra train had to be put on

4increase in body weight; become heavier by a specified amount:she’s given up her diet and put on 20 lb
add a specified amount to (the cost of something):the news put 12 pence on the share price
Cricket (of batsmen) score a particular number of runs in a partnership:Gooch and Broad put on 125 for the first wicket

5assume a particular expression, accent, etc.:he put on a lugubrious look
behave deceptively:she doesn’t feel she has to put on an act

6bet a specified amount of money on:he put £1,000 on the horse to win

put someone on to

draw someone’s attention to (someone or something useful, notable, or interesting):Pike put me on to the Department’s Legal Section

put out

North American vulgar slang agree to have sexual intercourse with someone: getting a girl to put out for him had not always been a simple matter

put someone out

1cause someone trouble or inconvenience:would it put you out too much to let her visit you for a couple of hours?
upset or annoy someone:he was not put out by the rebuff

2(in sport) defeat a player or side and so eliminate them from a competition: the Czechs put Rangers out of the European Cup

3make someone unconscious by means of drugs or an anaesthetic: the injection will put you out for ten minutes

put something out

1extinguish something that is burning:fire crews from Grangetown put out the blaze
turn off a light: he dashed over to the door and put out the light

2lay something out ready for use:she put out glasses and paper napkins

3issue or broadcast something:a limited-edition single was put out to promote the album

4dislocate a joint:she fell off her horse and put her shoulder out

5(of a company) allocate work to a contractor or freelancer to be done off the premises: a big agency might put the work out to an independent merchandizing company

6(of an engine or motor) produce a particular amount of power:the non-turbo is expected to put out about 250 bhp

put something over

1another way of saying put something across above.

2North American postpone something: let’s put the case over for a few weeks

put someone through

1connect someone by telephone to another person or place:put me through to the police office, please

2subject someone to an unpleasant or demanding experience:I hate Brian for what he put me through

3pay for one’s child to attend school or college: you’ve spent so much to put your daughter through college

put something through

initiate something and see it through to a successful conclusion:he put through a reform programme to try to save the regime

put someone to

cause (inconvenience or difficulty) to someone:I don’t want to put you to any trouble

put something to

1submit something to (someone) for consideration or attention:we are making a takeover bid and putting an offer to the shareholders
(put it to) [with clause] make a statement or allegation to (someone) and challenge them to deny it:I put it to him that he was just a political groupie

2devote something to (a particular use or purpose):they put the land to productive use

3couple an animal with (another of the opposite sex) for breeding: he put the stallion to the mare Grove Chance

put something together

make something by assembling different parts or people:he can take a clock apart and put it back together again they decided to put a new band together

put someone under

another way of saying put someone out (sense 3 phrasalVerbs) above.

put up

stay temporarily in accommodation other than one’s own home:we put up at a hotel in the city centre

put someone up

1accommodate someone temporarily: we’re going to put him up for a few days

2propose someone for election or adoption:the party had put up a candidate in each constituency

put something up

1construct or erect something:I put up the tent and cooked a meal

2raise one’s hand to signal that one wishes to answer or ask a question.

3display a notice, sign, or poster: she put up a sign advertising the guest house
present a proposal, theory, or argument for discussion or consideration: they asked local architects to put up alternative schemes

4chiefly British increase the cost of something:I’m afraid I’ve got to put your rent up

5provide money as backing for an enterprise:the sponsors are putting up £5,000 for the event

6offer or show a particular degree of resistance, effort, or skill in a fight or competitive situation:he put up a brave fight

7offer something for sale or auction: the mill was closed and put up for sale

8cause game to rise from cover: his dog put up an otter from the riverside

9 archaic return a sword to its sheath: he put up his sword and gave the body a kick

be put upon

informal (often as adjective put-upon) be taken advantage of through having one’s good nature exploited:a put-upon drudge who slaved for her employer

put someone up to

1 informal encourage someone to do (something wrong or unwise):Who else would play a trick like that on me? I expect Rose put him up to it

2 archaic inform someone about (something): Ned’s put me up to a good thing or two

put up with

tolerate; endure:I’m too tired to put up with any nonsense

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verb (puts, putting; past and past participle put)

noun

Phrases

not know where to put oneself

put something behind one

put the clocks back (or forward)

put someone's eyes out

put one's hands together

put one's hands up

put it (or oneself) about

put it there

put one over on

put up or shut up

Phrasal Verbs