As part of an occasional series on phrasal verbs formed with common verbs, this post looks at phrasal verbs that contain the verb ‘put’. As ever, the phrasal verbs that we include in this post are all common in everyday English.
Let’s start with an action that most of you have already done today – put on a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes:
Put your coat on, Jamie – it’s cold outside.
Here’s another one you have almost certainly done – put something down (= put an object that you are holding on the floor/table, etc):
I put my bags down while we spoke.
She put her cup down and stood up.
Like these two expressions, many phrasal verbs use ‘put’ with its main meaning of ‘to move something into a particular place or position’, for example ‘put back’ and ‘put away’:
He put the book back on the shelf.
I dried the dishes and put them away in the cupboard.
However, in other common ‘put’ phrasal verbs, the meaning is impossible to guess. Here are some of the most common ones that you may like to learn.
If you put on a light or a device such as the television, you make it operate, often by pressing a button or switch:
Could you put the light on?
Do you mind if I put the television on?
If you put on weight, you become heavier:
He’s put on a lot of weight since he stopped going to the gym.
I put on six pounds while I was on holiday.
If you put off an event, you arrange for it to happen at a later time:
We’ve had to put the meeting off till next month.
If you put off something that you do not want to do, you do not do it, telling yourself you will do it later:
I really don’t want to make this phone call. I keep putting it off.
If you put out a fire, you stop the fire:
It took firefighters six hours to put the fire out.
In the UK, to put up the price of something is to increase it:
They’ve put up the price of fuel again.
If you put someone up, you let them stay in your home for a short time:
She asked me if I could put her up while she was staying in London.
Of course, some phrasal verbs have two particles, for example put up with. If you put up with someone or something bad, you accept it, sometimes without complaining:
He’s really rude to her – I don’t know how she puts up with him.
Have a good week. We hope you don’t have too much to put up with!
Thanks for useful information
You’re very welcome!
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It is really helpful ,thanks
Great! We’re glad to hear it.
The phrasal verbs really big problem for learner. Thanks for writing.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for another helpful post.
Just out of curiosity, have you forgotten any introduction to the ‘put out’ phrasal verb. I felt that way after reading through the post.
Hi Alex! Thanks for getting in touch. I’m not sure what you mean about ‘put out’. I explained the meaning of the ‘put out a fire’ sense. Did you have another senses in mind? Best wishes.
‘Another sense’ even!
I don’t know why, but phrasal verbs are somehow hard for me to memorize… So I need a little help on this.
Alfred, I think a lot of people feel this way. We’ll keep posting articles on them so keep coming back. Best wishes!
Podrían aprender mejor el español? Gracias me cuesta mucho entenderles
Thanks a million!
It’s been quite useful.
Great! That’s good to know.
I’m quite put off by telling me how I should dress!
Useful indeed.
I have used and heard the phrase being used in this form
Put off the meeting Put on the kettle
But usually I would use put off as in a bit miffed and put on as acting or pretending.
Comments please.
Hi Mari! Yes, to put off a meeting is to delay it (make it happen at a later date). To put on a kettle is to switch it on. They’re both very common phrasal verbs. We hope that helps. Best wishes!
very useful
Thank you very much for this explanation, it help me a lot!
You are the teacher l am needing. Thanks!
Thanks a lot!
A great help to the English learners! Pl keep doing.Thank u!
Thnks a ton! I have always looked for a learning platform like this…I m happy i find this blog…i read ur articles daily…u write in such an amazing way that makes a learner understand easily…i m tryng to improve my English and I wud say this is the best site ever…
That’s lovely, Aswathi! Thank you so much.
Many thanks for all your kind comments here. We do appreciate it. We’ll be posting more articles on phrasal verbs in the months to come, (as well as other useful subjects) so do keep checking in. Best wishes to you all!
Thank you very much, I appreciate it from you.
Much obliged !