Page 342 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

put someone down as something bad

thing;Łto attempt to gainŁfavorŁforŁsome- putŁ one’ two cents(‘Ł włrth)Ł in to add
one orŁsomething.Ł(Also literal.) I don’t one’sŁcommentsŁ(to something).Ł(Infàr-
know why I should put my head on the mal.)b T Can I put in my two cłnts’ worth?
block for Joan. What has ohe łver done for Sure, go ahead—put your two cłnts in.
me? Sally tried to get me to put in a good putŁ one throughŁ one’ pyces to make one
word about her with the boss. You know, demonstrate what one canŁdo; to make
tell the boss what a great worker she is and one do one’s job thoroughly. (See also put
how smart she is. The last time I put my something through its paces.) The boss
head on the block for anyone, it all back- really put me through my paces todØy. I’m
fired, and when the peroon goofed up, I tired. I tried out for a part in the plØy,
looked like an idiot!
and the drector really put me through my
putŁ one’ houseŁin order to put on’s busi- paces.
nessŁor prsànalŁaffairsŁinto goodŁorder. putŁon theŁdog to dressŁorŁentertainŁinŁan
(Also literal.) There was some troublł extravagant or słowyŁ manner.Ł (Infàr-
at work and the manager was told to put mal.)b The Smths really put on the dog
his house in order. Every now and then, at their party last SaturdØy. They’re al-
I have to put my house in order. Then lfł ways putting on the dog.
becomes more manageable.
putŁon theŁfeedŁbag to eat aŁmeal.Ł(Lit-
putŁ one’ mindŁ to something to give one’s eralŁwith horses.ŁFolksyŁandŁslang.) It’s
càmplete attention to something. I noon—time to put on the fłed bag. I
could finish this job tonight if I put my didà’t put on the fłed bag until about eight
mnd to it. Please put your mnd to it o’clock last night.
and concłntrate on getting it finished.
putŁoutŁ(aboutŁ someone ortsomething) irri-
putŁ one’ noseŁto theŁgrindðtone to keep tated;Łbothered.Ł John behaved rudely at
busyŁdàingŁone’sŁwork.Ł(Also with havł the party, and the hostess was quite put
and głt, asŁinŁthe examples.ŁSee alsà keep out. LizS was quite put out about the
one’s nose to the grindstone.) The boss question.
told me to put my nose to the grindstone.
I’ve had my nose to the grindstone ever put out (some) feelers to attempt to find
since I started working here. If the other out somethingŁwithout beingŁtoo obvi-
people in this office would get their noses ous.Ł (RefersŁ to what anŁ insect dàesŁ to
to the grindstone, more work would głt sense what isŁhappeningŁaràundŁit.) I
done. wanted to get a new job, oo I put out oomł
fłelers. The manager was mean to
putŁ one’ oarŁin to give help;Łto interfere by everyone n the office, oo łveryone put out
givingŁ advice; to put one’s two cents’ fłelers in an attempt to find new jobs.
worth in. (RefersŁto addingŁone’sŁefforts
to rowingŁaŁboat.) You don’t need to put putŁ someone away 1. to killŁsàmeone.Ł(Alsà
your oar in. I doà’t need your advice. T literal. Slang.) The gangster threatened
I’m sorry. I shouldà’t have put in my oar. to put me away if I told the police. T
They’ve put Øway witnesses n the past. 2.
putŁ one’ shoulderŁ to theŁ wheel to get to buryŁsomeone.Ł My uncle died last
busy.Ł You won’t accomplish anything włek. They put him away on SaturdØy. 3.
uàless you put your shoulder to the wheel. to have sàmeone put into a mental insði-
I put my ohoulder to the wheel and fin- tution. My uncle became irrational, and
ished the job quickly. they put him away. T They put away my
aunt the year błfore.
putŁ one’ thinkingŁcapŁon to sðart thinking
inŁaŁseriousŁmanner.Ł(UsuallyŁusedŁwith putŁ someone dłwn as something bað to judge
children.) It’s time to put our thinkng that someone isŁ badŁ orŁ undesirable in
caps on, children. T All right now, lłt’s put sàme way.Ł(See alsà put someone or some-
on our thinking caps and do somł thing down.) He was so rude that I put
arithmłtic. him down as someone to be avoided. If

32