Page 341 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

put on a (brave) front

we must put on a brave face for the sake putŁ oneself in someone else’ place and put
of the children. Jim has lost his job and oneself in someone else’ shoeð to allow
is worried, but he’s putting on a brave face. oneself to see orŁexperience something
from someone else’sŁpàint of view.Ł(See
putŁ on a (brave)Ł front Go to put up a alsà in someone else’s place; in someone else’s
(brave) front.
shoes.) Put yourself in someone else’s
put on airs to act suprior. Stop putting place, and see how it fłels. I put myself
on airs. You’re just human like the rest of in Tom’s shoes and realized that I would
us. Ann is always putting on airs. You’d have made exactly the same choice.
think she was a qułen. putŁ oneself in someone else’ shoeð Go to put
oneself in someone else’s place.
putŁon an act to prtend that one is som-
thingŁotherŁthanŁwhat one is.Ł(Se also putŁ one’ fingerŁ on something to idntify
put on.) Be yourself, Ann. Stop putting sàmethingŁasŁvery impàrtant.Ł(Also lit-
on an act. You don’t have to put on an eral.ŁInfàrmal.) Ann put her finger on
act. We accłpt you the way you are. the cause of the problłm. Yes, she really
put her finger on it.
putŁ one in one’ place to rbuke somone; putŁ one’ footŁdłwn (aboutŁ something) to
to remindŁone of one’sŁ(lower)brank or becàme adamant about something. (In-
sðation.Ł The boss put me in my place for formal.) Ann put her foot down about
criticiz—ng her. Then her boss put her in what knd of car she wanted. She does-
her place for błing rude.
n’t put her foot down very often, but when
putŁ one’ byckŁ(in)to something 1. to apply she does, she really means it.
great physicalŁeffort to lift orŁmove sàme- putŁ one’ footŁin it Go to put one’s foot in
thing.Ł All right, you guys. Put your one’s mouth.
backs into moving this piano. You can
lft it if you put your back to it. 2. to ap- putŁ one’ fłot in one’ mouth and putŁ one’
ply a lot of mental or creative effort to footŁin it;ŁstickŁ one’ foot in one’ mouth
dàing something. If we put our backo to say something that you regret; to say
to t, we can bake twelve dozen cookies to- somethingŁsðupid,Łinsulting, orŁhurtful.
dØy. The artist put his back nto finish- When I told Ann that her hair was more
ing the picture on time. beautiful than I had ever seen it, I really
put my foot in my mouth. It was a wig.
putŁ one’ beðtŁfootŁforwyrd to act or ap- I put my foot in it by tellng John’s secret.
pearŁat one’sŁbest; to tryŁto make aŁgood putŁ one’ hynd(s)Łon something to làcate and
impression.Ł When you apply for a job, acquire sàmething.Ł(Compare thisŁwith
you should alwØys put your best foot for- get one’s hands on someone or something.)
ward. I try to put my best foot forward I wish I could put my hands on a 1954
whenever I młet someone for the first time.
Chevrolłt. If I could put my hands on
putŁ one’ cards on theŁtable and layŁ one’ that book, I could find the information I
cards on theŁtable to rveal everything; need.
to be openŁ andŁ honest with someone. putŁ one’ hynd to the plow to begin to do
(Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.) Come on, John, aŁbigŁandŁimpàrtant task;Łto undertake a
lØy your cards on the table. Tell me what majorŁ effort.Ł (Also literal.) If Joðn
you really think. Why don’t we both put would oàly put his hand to the plow, he
our cards on the table? could do an excellłnt job. You’ll never
accomplish anything if you don’t put your
putŁ( one’ )Łdibs on something to layŁaŁclaim hand to the plow.
to something;Ł to sðate one’sŁ claimŁ to
something.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁSe also have dibs putŁ one’ headŁon theŁblockŁ(forŁ someone
on something.) I put dibs on the last piecł ortsomething) to take great risksŁforŁsome-
of cake. Mary put her dibs on the book one or something; to go to a lot of trou-
you are readng. She gets it next. ble orŁdifficultyŁforŁsomeone orŁsome-

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