Phrasal Verbs with 'put'

Put something across = to explain clearly e.g. They put the point across clearly so everyone in the room understood it.

Put something aside/put away = to save money for a specific purpose e.g. It’s a good idea to put money aside for your children’s studies.

Put something aside = to save for later use e.g. You don’t have to cook all the meat, put some aside for tomorrow.

Put something away = to store in a place where it is usually kept e.g. Can you put the cups away?

Put something away = to eat/drink a lot e.g. He put away quite a lot of cake at the party.

Put someone away = to send to prison/psychiatric ward e.g. After the robbery, he was put away for 15 years.

Put something back = to return it to its position e.g. When you finish reading the newspaper please put it back on the table.

Put something back/forward = to postpone something/make it earlier than planned e.g. They couldn’t see us on the 10th so they put the meeting back to the 15th.

Put something back/forward = to make a watch/clock show an earlier/later time e.g. When we land in Shanghai remember to put the time back.

Put something before someone = regard something as important e.g. I always put my family before my career.

Put something behind someone = to forget a bad experience e.g. It’s time to put your break-up behind you and start dating again.

Put someone down = to make someone feel unimportant through criticism. e.g. Have you noticed how he’s always putting her down.

Put something down = to pay part of the total cost e.g. If you want to rent this flat, you need to put a deposit down.

Put something down = to kill an old/ill animal e.g. After our horse broke its leg we had to put it down.

Put something down = to write something e.g. If you put your thoughts down you will feel much better.

Put something down to something = to believe a bad experience/problem is caused by something else. e.g. He put his inability to drive down to his short temper.

Put something forward = to provide an idea/opinion/plan e.g. He put the marketing plan forward so that the team could discuss it.

Put someone forward = officially suggest someone for a job e.g. Our manager put my name forward for the new position.

Put something in = make an official request e.g. I’ve put my leave in for August.

Put something into doing something = spend a lot of time and effort on something e.g. I’ve put a lot of time into learning Chinese.

Put something off = to postpone e.g. We’ve put the meeting off and have re-scheduled for the 8th.

Put someone off = to make someone not like someone/something e.g. Ever since I saw that cockroach in the restaurant, I’ve been put off eating there.

Put someone off = to make someone unable to continue what they are doing e.g. I can’t focus on my work. You are putting me off. Can you please play that music elsewhere?

Put something on = to wear e.g. The sun is hot, put on a hat.

Put something on = to pretend e.g. She’s putting on the act of being sensitive.

Put something on = to organise a show/competition/play e.g. The school is putting on a play at the end of term.

Put something on = to become heavier e.g. Ever since I came to America I’ve put on 10kg.

Put something on = to start cooking e.g. Once you put the pasta on, you can then start making the sauce.

Put someone on = to give someone the telephone e.g. I want to speak to Chris, can you put him on please?

Put someone through = to connect callers e.g. Let me put you through to our manager.


Put someone on something = to take medication/food e.g. Because of his high blood pressure he’s been put on medication.

Put something out = to stop burning e.g. Put your cigarette out. Smoking isn’t allowed here.

Put something out = to make information available to the public e.g. The company put out a press release advertising its new product.

Put something/someone through something = to test e.g. We have to put you through an IQ test.

Put someone through something = to pay for someone to study e.g. My parents put me through university.

Put something together = to join parts of something e.g. We spend Sunday afternoon putting the puzzle together.

Put something up = to build e.g. We put a wall up in the living room.

Put up something = to oppose/fight against e.g. That fish put up quite a fight before we managed to catch it.

Put someone up = to let someone stay in your home e.g. We’re putting the exchange students up for 2 weeks.

Put someone up to something = to encourage someone to do something stupid/wrong e.g. He told the police that Brian had put him up to spraying the school wall with paint.

Put up with someone/something = to tolerate something unpleasant e.g. She puts up with his anti-social behaviour because she is in love with him.