1move to or place in a particular position:Harry put down his cupI put my hand out towards herwatch where you’re putting your feet!
cause (someone or something) to go to a particular place and remain there for a time:India has put three experimental satellites into space
[no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a ship) proceed in a particular direction:she stepped into the boat and put out to seathey put in at Cuba to refit
[no object, with adverbial of direction]US archaic (of a river) flow in a particular direction.
2bring into a particular state or condition:they tried to put me at easea large aid programme was put into practicehe is putting himself at risk
(put oneself in) imagine oneself in (a particular situation):it was no use trying to put herself in his place
write or print (something) in a particular place:they put my name on the cover page
express (a thought or comment) in a particular way:to put it bluntly, he was not really divorced
3 (put something on/on to) cause (someone or something) to be subject to something:commentators put some of the blame on Congresshe defended his decision to put VAT on domestic fuel
assign a particular value, figure, or limit to:it is very difficult to put a figure on the size of the budget
(put something at) estimate something to be (a particular amount):estimates put the war’s cost at £1 million a day
4throw (a shot or weight) as an athletic sport:she set a women’s record by putting the shot 56' 7"
not know where to put oneself
informal feel deeply embarrassed.
put something behind one
get over a bad experience by distancing oneself from it:they have tried to put their grief behind them and rebuild their lives
put the clocks back (or forward)
adjust clocks or watches backwards (or forwards) to take account of official changes in time:don’t forget to put your clocks back tomorrow night
put someone's eyes out
blind someone in a violent way:Lucia, the virgin saint who had her eyes put out
put one's hands together
applaud; clap:I want you all to put your hands together for Barry
put one's hands up
raise one’s hands in surrender.
put it (or oneself) about
British informal be sexually promiscuous.
put it there
[in imperative] informal used to indicate that the speaker wishes to shake hands with someone in agreement or congratulation:put it there Steven, we beat them
put one over on
informal deceive (someone) into accepting something false:he was astute-no one was going to put one over on him
put up or shut up
informal justify oneself or remain silent:they called for the minister to either put up or shut up
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
1 informal criticize someone:he put me down in front of my own employeesstop 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 picklesthe claret was put down for ageing
6 (also put down) land an aircraft:Shelton put the plane safely down on a taxiwaythe 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 dressshe 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 informal 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
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 againthey decided to put a new band together
