2 PHRASAL VERB If you put down some money, you pay part of the price of something, and will pay the rest later. □ [V P n] He bought an investment property for $100,000 and put down $20,000. □ [V n P ] He's got to put cash down.
3 PHRASAL VERB When soldiers, police, or the government put down a riot or rebellion, they stop it by using force. □ [V P n] Soldiers went in to put down a rebellion. [Also V n P ]
4 PHRASAL VERB If someone puts you down , they treat you in an unpleasant way by criticizing you in front of other people or making you appear foolish. □ [V n P ] I know that I do put people down occasionally. □ [V P n] Racist jokes come from wanting to put down other kinds of people we feel threatened by.
5 → see also put-down
6 PHRASAL VERB When an animal is put down , it is killed because it is dangerous or very ill. [mainly BRIT ] □ [be V -ed P ] Magistrates ordered his dog Samson to be put down immediately. □ [V P n] They think that any legislation that involved putting down dogs was wrong. [Also V n P ]
▸ put down to PHRASAL VERB If you put something down to a particular thing, you believe that it is caused by that thing. □ [V n P P n] You may be a sceptic and put it down to life's inequalities.
▸ put forward PHRASAL VERB If you put forward a plan, proposal, or name, you suggest that it should be considered for a particular purpose or job. □ [V P n] He has put forward new peace proposals. □ [V n P + for ] I rang the colonel and asked him to put my name forward for the vacancy. [Also V n P ]
▸ put in
1 PHRASAL VERB If you put in an amount of time or effort doing something, you spend that time or effort doing it. □ [V P n] They've put in time and effort to keep the strike going. □ [V n P ] If we don't put money in we will lose our investment.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you put in a request or put in for something, you formally request or apply for that thing. □ [V P n] The ministry ordered 113 of these and later put in a request for 21 more. □ [V P + for ] I decided to put in for a job as deputy secretary.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you put in a remark, you interrupt someone or add to what they have said with the remark. □ [V P with quote] 'He was a lawyer before that,' Mary Ann put in.
4 PHRASAL VERB When a ship puts in or puts into a port, it goes into the port for a short stop. □ [V P adv/prep] It's due to put in at Aden and some other ports before arriving in Basra.
▸ put off
1 PHRASAL VERB If you put something off , you delay doing it. □ [V P v-ing/n] Women who put off having a baby often make the best mothers. □ [V n P ] The Association has put the event off until October.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you put someone off , you make them wait for something that they want. □ [V n P ] The old priest tried to put them off, saying that the hour was late.
3 PHRASAL VERB If something puts you off something, it makes you dislike it, or decide not to do or have it. □ [V n P n/v-ing] The thought of caring for young plants can put people off growing their own veg. □ [V n P ] His personal habits put them off. □ [V P n] The country's worsening reputation does not seem to be putting off the tourists. □ [be V -ed P ] We tried to visit the Abbey but were put off by the queues.
4 PHRASAL VERB If someone or something puts you off , they take your attention from what you are trying to do and make it more difficult for you to do it. □ [V n P ] She asked me to be serious–said it put her off if I laughed. □ [V n P n/v-ing] It put her off revising for her exams. [Also V P n (not pron)]
▸ put on
1 PHRASAL VERB When you put on clothing or make-up, you place it on your body in order to wear it. □ [V P n] She put on her coat and went out. □ [V n P ] I haven't even put any lipstick on.
2 PHRASAL VERB When people put on a show, exhibition, or service, they perform it or organize it. □ [V P n] The band are hoping to put on a U.K. show before the end of the year. □ [V n P ] We put it on and everybody said 'Oh it's a brilliant production'.
3 PHRASAL VERB If someone puts on weight, they become heavier. □ [V P n] I can eat what I want but I never put on weight. □ [V P n] Luther's put on three stone. [Also V n P ]
4 PHRASAL VERB If you put on a piece of equipment or a device, you make it start working, for example by pressing a switch or turning a knob. □ [V n P ] I put the radio on. □ [V P n] I put on the light by the bed.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you put a record or CD on , you place it in a record or CD player and listen to it. □ [V n P ] She poured them drinks, and put a record on loud. □ [V P n] Let's go into the study and put on some music.
6 PHRASAL VERB If you put something on , you begin to cook or heat it. □ [V n P ] She immediately put the kettle on. □ [V n P ] Put some rice on now. □ [V P n] Put on a pan of water to simmer and gently poach the eggs.
7 PHRASAL VERB If you put a sum of money on something, you make a bet about it. For example, if you put £10 on a racehorse, you bet £10 that it will win. □ [V n P n/v-ing] They each put £20 on Matthew scoring the first goal. □ [V n P ] I'll put a bet on for you. [Also V P n]