30 Expressions with PUT (Phrasal Verbs, Collocations & Idioms)
Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson on 30 expressions with “put”.
The verb put is one of the most common verbs in English, but its meaning changes dramatically depending on the words that follow it. Native speakers use put in phrasal verbs, fixed collocations, and idiomatic expressions every day — especially in spoken English, professional communication, and exam answers.
In this lesson, you’ll learn 30 natural expressions with put, each with a clear meaning and example sentences to help you use them confidently in real-life situations.
Phrasal Verbs with PUT
Put off
Meaning: to postpone or delay something.
The terrible weather forced them to put off their trip.
I often put off doing my homework until the last minute.
The terrible weather forced them to put off their trip.
I often put off doing my homework until the last minute.
Put up with
Meaning: to tolerate something unpleasant.
Sandra can’t put up with the noise from her neighbours anymore.
I don’t know how you put up with Peter’s constant complaining.
Sandra can’t put up with the noise from her neighbours anymore.
I don’t know how you put up with Peter’s constant complaining.
Put on
Meaning: to wear something or apply something.
Remember to put on sunscreen before going to the beach.
He always puts on a big smile when meeting new people.
Remember to put on sunscreen before going to the beach.
He always puts on a big smile when meeting new people.
Put out
Meaning: to extinguish something or cause inconvenience.
The firefighters put out the fire quickly.
Sorry to put you out, but could you give me a hand?
The firefighters put out the fire quickly.
Sorry to put you out, but could you give me a hand?
Put away
Meaning: to tidy or store something in its place.
Please put your clothes away before dinner.
She put away her winter coat as soon as spring arrived.
Please put your clothes away before dinner.
She put away her winter coat as soon as spring arrived.
Put aside
Meaning: to save or reserve for later.
If you put aside some money every month, you’ll have enough for holiday.
They put aside their differences to work as a team.
If you put aside some money every month, you’ll have enough for holiday.
They put aside their differences to work as a team.
Put up
Meaning: to display something or provide accommodation.
They put up decorations for the celebration.
My aunt always puts me up when I visit London.
They put up decorations for the celebration.
My aunt always puts me up when I visit London.
Put down
Meaning: to criticise or make someone feel inferior.
He felt hurt when his idea was put down.
Don’t put yourself down — you did your best.
He felt hurt when his idea was put down.
Don’t put yourself down — you did your best.
Put together
Meaning: to assemble or organise something.
Can you help me put together this table?
She put together a detailed report for the meeting.
Can you help me put together this table?
She put together a detailed report for the meeting.
Put through
Meaning: to connect a call or force someone to experience something difficult.
Could you put me through to customer support?
He was put through intense training.
Could you put me through to customer support?
He was put through intense training.
Put in
Meaning: to make an official request or invest effort.
I’ve put in a request for annual leave.
They put in a lot of work to finish on time.
I’ve put in a request for annual leave.
They put in a lot of work to finish on time.
Collocations with PUT
Put pressure on
Meaning: to try to influence someone strongly.
His parents put pressure on him to succeed.
The entire team is under pressure to meet the deadline.
His parents put pressure on him to succeed.
The entire team is under pressure to meet the deadline.
Put out a statement
Meaning: to release official information.
The company put out a statement denying the rumours.
The minister put out a public apology.
The company put out a statement denying the rumours.
The minister put out a public apology.
Put into practice
Meaning: to apply theory in real situations.
She finally put her training into practice.
It’s harder to put ideas into practice than to discuss them.
She finally put her training into practice.
It’s harder to put ideas into practice than to discuss them.
Put at risk
Meaning: to endanger something.
Tony always puts his health at risk by ignoring medical advice.
We must not put public safety at risk.
We must not put public safety at risk.
Put the blame on
Meaning: to accuse someone of responsibility.
Don’t put the blame on other people for your mistakes.
The media put the blame on the government.
Don’t put the blame on other people for your mistakes.
The media put the blame on the government.
Put faith in
Meaning: to trust or believe in someone or something.
Mary put her faith in the medical staff.
Instead of relying on luck, I put faith in hard work.
Mary put her faith in the medical staff.
Instead of relying on luck, I put faith in hard work.
Put emphasis on
Meaning: to emphasise importance.
The course puts emphasis on communication skills.
Teachers often put emphasis on regular revision.
The course puts emphasis on communication skills.
Teachers often put emphasis on regular revision.
Put to the test
Meaning: to test or challenge something.
The new system was put to the test immediately.
His patience was put to the test.
The new system was put to the test immediately.
His patience was put to the test.
Idioms with PUT
Put down roots
Meaning: to settle permanently in one place.
They moved abroad but eventually put down roots there.
After years of travel, she wanted to put down roots.
They moved abroad but eventually put down roots there.
After years of travel, she wanted to put down roots.
Put yourself in someone’s shoes
Meaning: to imagine another person’s feelings or situation.
Put yourself in her shoes before judging her decision.
It helps to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Put yourself in her shoes before judging her decision.
It helps to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Put up a fight
Meaning: to resist fiercly.
The team put up a fight despite losing.
She put up a brave fight against the illness.
The team put up a fight despite losing.
She put up a brave fight against the illness.
Put money on
Meaning: to bet or make sure prediction.
I wouldn’t put money on them winning.
Patsy put all her money on the underdog.
I wouldn’t put money on them winning.
Patsy put all her money on the underdog.
Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: to depend solely on one option.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when investing.
Celia put all her eggs in one basket by choosing one offer.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when investing.
Celia put all her eggs in one basket by choosing one offer.
Put to good use
Meaning: to use effectively.
He put his skills to good use at work.
The donations were put to good use.
He put his skills to good use at work.
The donations were put to good use.
Put words in someone’s mouth
Meaning: to claim someone said something they didn’t.
Don’t put words in my mouth — that’s not what I meant.
She accused him of putting words in her mouth.
Don’t put words in my mouth — that’s not what I meant.
She accused him of putting words in her mouth.
Put on hold
Meaning: to delay temporarily.
The project was put on hold due to budget cuts.
My travel plans were put on hold.
The project was put on hold due to budget cuts.
My travel plans were put on hold.
Put up resistance
Meaning: to oppose strongly.
The locals put up resistance to the proposal.
Despite being outnumbered, the army put up resistance
The locals put up resistance to the proposal.
Despite being outnumbered, the army put up resistance
Put things right
Meaning: to correct a mistake or repair a situation.
He apologised to put things right.
The company acted quickly to put things right.
He apologised to put things right.
The company acted quickly to put things right.
Final thoughts
Expressions with put appear constantly in everyday conversations, exams, and professional English. Learning them as complete phrases — not single words — will make your English sound more fluent, confident, and natural.
Try using a few of these expressions in your next speaking task or piece of writing, and you’ll quickly feel the difference.
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Phrasal Verbs with "Throw" - My Lingua Academy · 3 Feb 2026 at 3:20 pm
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