5 VERB If you put your trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something, you trust them or have faith or confidence in them. □ [V n + in ] How much faith should we put in anti-ageing products?
6 VERB If you put time, strength, or energy into an activity, you use it in doing that activity. □ [V n + into ] Eleanor did not put much energy into the discussion.
7 VERB If you put money into a business or project, you invest money in it. □ [V n + into ] Investors should consider putting some money into an annuity.
8 VERB When you put an idea or remark in a particular way, you express it in that way. You can use expressions like to put it simply and to put it bluntly before saying something when you want to explain how you are going to express it. □ [V n] I had already met him a couple of times through–how should I put it–friends in low places. □ [V n adv/prep] He doesn't, to put it very bluntly, give a damn about the woman or the baby. □ [V it ] He admitted the security forces might have made some mistakes, as he put it. □ [V n + into ] You can't put that sort of fear into words.
9 VERB When you put a question to someone, you ask them the question. □ [V n + to ] Is this fair? Well, I put that question today to the deputy counsel. □ [V n adv] He thinks that some workers may be afraid to put questions publicly.
10 VERB If you put a case, opinion, or proposal, you explain it and list the reasons why you support or believe it. □ [V n] He always put his point of view with clarity and with courage. □ [V n + to ] He put the case to the Saudi Foreign Minister.
11 VERB If you put something at a particular value or in a particular category, you consider that it has that value or that it belongs in that category. □ [V n + at ] I would put her age at about 50 or so. □ [V n + on ] All the more technically advanced countries put a high value on science. □ [V n + into ] It is not easy to put the guilty and innocent into clear-cut categories. [Also V n adj-compar]
12 VERB If you put written information somewhere, you write, type, or print it there. □ [V n prep/adv] Mary's family were so pleased that they put an announcement in the local paper to thank them. □ [V n] He crossed out 'Screenplay' and put 'Written by' instead.
13 PHRASE If you put it to someone that something is true, you suggest that it is true, especially when you think that they will be unwilling to admit this. □ But I put it to you that they're useless.
14 PHRASE If you say that something is bigger or better than several other things put together , you mean that it is bigger or has more good qualities than all of those other things if they are added together. □ London has more pubs and clubs than the rest of the country put together.
▸ put about The forms put around and put round are also used in British English. PHRASAL VERB If you put something about , you tell it to people that you meet and cause it to become well-known. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n P that] Moderates are putting it about that people shouldn't take the things said at the Republican Convention too seriously. □ [V P n] The King had been putting about lurid rumours for months. [Also V n P ]
▸ put across or put over PHRASAL VERB When you put something across or put it over , you succeed in describing or explaining it to someone. □ [V n P ] He has taken out a half-page advertisement in his local paper to put his point across. □ [V P n] This is actually a very entertaining book putting over serious health messages.
▸ put around → see put about
▸ put aside
1 PHRASAL VERB If you put something aside , you keep it to be dealt with or used at a later time. □ [V n P ] She took up a slice of bread, broke it nervously, then put it aside. □ [V P n] Encourage children to put aside some of their pocket-money to buy birthday presents.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you put a feeling or disagreement aside , you forget about it or ignore it in order to solve a problem or argument. □ [V P n] We should put aside our differences and discuss the things we have in common. □ [V n P ] We admitted that the attraction was there, but decided that we would put the feelings aside.
▸ put away
1 PHRASAL VERB If you put something away , you put it into the place where it is normally kept when it is not being used, for example in a drawer. □ [V n P ] She finished putting the milk away and turned around. □ [V P n] 'Yes, Mum,' replied Cheryl as she slowly put away her doll. □ [V -ed P ] Her bed was crisply made, her clothes put away.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone is put away , they are sent to prison or to a mental hospital for a long time. [INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed P ] He's an animal! He should be put away. □ [V n P ] His testimony could put Drago away for life.
▸ put back PHRASAL VERB To put something back means to delay it or arrange for it to happen later than you previously planned. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n P ] There are always new projects which seem to put the reunion back further. □ [be V -ed P ] News conferences due to be held by both men have been put back. [Also V P n]
▸ put down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you put something down somewhere, you write or type it there. □ [V n P + in/on ] Never put anything down on paper which might be used in evidence against you at a later date. □ [V P that] We've put down that we would like some technology courses. □ [V P wh] I had prepared for the meeting by putting down what I wanted from them. [Also V P n]