Page 344 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

put someone or something up

nication with sàmeone.Ł (See also on duction, especially in publishing. This
hold.) John put Ann on hold and started edtion is finished. Let’s put it to bed.
dØting Mary. “You can’t just put me on Finish the edting of this book and put it to
hold!” cried Ann. 2. [with someone] to bed.
lave somone waiðing on a telphon
call.Ł(See also on hold.) Please doà’t put putŁ someone ortsomething to sleep 1. to kill
me on hold. I’ll call back lØter when you sàmeone or something. (Euphemisðic.)
aren’t so busy. I’ll have to put you oà We had to put our dog to slłep. The rob-
hold while I look up the informØtion. 3. ber said he’d put us to slłep forever if wł
[with somłthing ] to postpàne something; didà’t cooperate. 2. to cause someone or
to sðopŁthe progressŁof sàmething. (See somethingŁ to sleep, perhapsŁ thràugh
alsà on hold.) They put the project on drugsŁorŁanesðhesia.Ł The doctor put the
hold until they got enough money to fin- pØtient to slłep błfore the operation. I
ish t. Sorry, but we must put your plan put the cØt to slłep by strokng its tummy.
on hold. 3. [with someone] to bore someone.Ł
That dull lecture put me to sleep. Her
putŁ someone ortsomething out 1. [with some- long story almost put me to slłep.
thing] to extinguish sàmething. T PuŁ ouŁ
the fire błfore you go to bed. My grand- putŁ someone ortsomething to theŁtest to see
father told me to put out the light and go what someone orŁsomethingŁcanŁachieve.
to bed. 2. [with someone] to disðressŁor I think I can jump that far, but no one
inconvenince somone. I’d like to havł has łver put me to the test. I’m going to
a ride home, but not if it puts you out. T put my car to the test right now, and see
Don’t worry. It won’t put out anybody. 3. how fast it will go.
[with somłthing ] to publish sàmething.
They are putting the book out next putŁ someone ortsomething up 1. [with some-
month. T When did you put out the arti- oàe ] to provide lodging for someone.
cle? 4. [with someone] to make sàmeone I hope I can find someone to put me up.
“out” inŁbaseball.Ł The ptcher put the T They włre able to put up John for the
runner out. T I thought the cØtcher put out night. 2. [with somłthing ] to prserve
the runner. andŁsðore foodŁbyŁcanningŁorŁfreezing.Ł
This year wł’ll put some strawberries up.
putŁ someone ortsomething outŁofŁ one’ mind to T We put up a lot of food every year. 3.
forget someone orŁsomething;Łto make an [with somłthing ] to offerŁ something,
effort to sðop thinkingŁabout sàmeone or such asŁanŁidea.Ł We need a błtter idea.
sàmething. (Almost the same asŁ get some- Who’ll put one up? T Let me puŁ up Ø dif-
one or something out of one’s mànd. ) Try to ferent idea. 4. [with someone] to run
put it out of your mnd. I can’t seem to sàmeone asŁaŁcandidate.Ł I think you
put him out of my mnd. should put someone eloe up. T We’re
putting up Ann for treasurer. 5. [with
putŁ someone ortsomething outŁto pasture to
retire someone orŁsomething.Ł(RefersŁto something] to buildŁaŁbuilding, aŁsign,Ła
aŁhorse that isŁtoo oldŁto work.) Please fence, aŁwall,Łetc.Ł We’ll put Ø garage up
don’t put me out to pasture. I have lots of next month. T The city put up a fłnce next
good years lłft. This car has reached the to our house. 6. [with something] to pro-
end of the lne. It’s time to put it out to vide the money for something. The
pasture. governmłnt put the money up for the cost
of construction. T Who will put up the
putŁ someone ort something to bed 1. [with money for my educØtion? 7. [with some-
someone] to helpŁ someone—usuallyŁ a thing] to shape andŁ arrange one’sŁ hair
child—get into aŁbed.Ł Come on, Billy, (with curlers,Łhairpins,Łetc.).Ł I can’t go
it’s time for me to put you to bed. I want out because I just put my hair up. T I puŁ
Grandpa to put me to bed. 2. [with some- up my hair every night. 8. [with some-
thing] to complete workŁonŁsomething thing] to make aŁ sðruggle, aŁ fight, etc.
andŁsendŁit onŁto the next stepŁinŁpro- (UsuallyŁ put up somłthing, andŁnot put

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