Do you know the difference between “put off” and “put up with”?
Phrasal verbs with put are extremely common in English. But they can also be confusing.
In this lesson, you’ll learn common and advanced phrasal verbs with put, including:
• put off
• put up with
• put by
• and some unusual ones you may not know
Each one comes with clear meanings and practical examples so you can start using them naturally in conversation.
Watch the video below, then scroll down to see all the phrasal verbs explained step by step.
English Phrasal Verbs with Put
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of natural English.
Native speakers use them every day in conversations, at work, and even in professional writing.
If you want to sound more fluent, you need to understand how they work and how to use them correctly.
Below, you’ll find a list of useful phrasal verbs with put, including both common and less common expressions, with clear explanations and example sentences.
Let’s go through them one by one.
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put off
We use this phrasal verb when we wish to postpone cancel or delay a meeting or similar appointment. It can be used to postpone the meeting for a short time or a longer period or indefinitely.
Example:
Irene asked if we could put off the lesson until she was feeling better. She would contact me in a few days to rearrange.
The rain was heavy and had not stopped for at least two days. The concert would have to be put off until another date.
We can also use PUT OFF to mean that we may not like something or somebody because of something the person said or because of some action.
Example:
The extra cost of getting these PCR tests and other tests will put you off travelling.
Sara quite liked Antonio but she was put off him by her friend who told him he could not be trusted.
Julia was going to climb the volcano but was put off when she heard that the volcano had shown some signs of being active!
Phrasal Verbs with PUT
put aside
We can use this in quite a few ways. If we want to save some money for a special purpose (a future holiday, perhaps) or event we often save that money in a special bank account. Here we say we put aside some money each month.
Example:
Anton was buying a new apartment. The apartment would be completed in about 6 months. He decided to put aside some of his salary each month to purchase the new furniture he would need.
We also use PUT ASIDE to try and get some people to begin talking to each other after some misunderstanding or argument.
Example:
Don’t you think it was about time you put aside your differences (whatever your argument was about) and try to improve your relationship?
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put up with
We use this phrasal verb to explain a situation when we have to accept some situation that we would prefer not to. It could be a visit from somebody we do not particularly like or a work situation that we would prefer not to tolerate.
Example:
Catherine had put up with her husbands’ drinking for many years. She finally could not accept it any longer and told him if he did not get the help she would leave him.
put up with meaning - video lesson
put down
Literally to put down is to place or replace something you have picked up.
Example:
I picked up the package and put it down on the table.
However, it has other meanings and uses. It can refer to the way in which we stop an animal from any further suffering if it has had an accident or is seriously ill.
Example:
The dog was in great pain. It would not survive. The vet believed the best thing for everybody was to put it down (put it asleep).
We can also use PUT DOWN to refer to how we can humiliate or make fun of somebody by using clever words or jokes. We often see this on television when comedians make fun of politicians.
Example:
Charles was always very careful not to say the wrong thing at the staff meetings. At the last meeting, someone asked whether bonuses would be paid and the boss put her down with a very sarcastic joke. Everyone laughed but the person was really embarrassed.
Phrasal Verbs with PUT
put down
also means to make a note or to write down
Example:
I made every one of my son’s football games because I’d committed to it and put it down in my calendar.
And finally, PUT DOWN means to pay a deposit for something, for example, your new car, your new apartment (house), your summer holiday or flight tickets
Example:
We put down a deposit on a house last week.
A PUT-DOWN is also a noun. It was a very witty put-down. Notice how it is written differently:
PUT DOWN – phrasal verb
and PUT-DOWN – noun
put down to something
Meaning: believe something is the reason why something else happened
Example:
This heavy rain; and these tropical type weather effects have been put down to climate change.
The kids are really misbehaving today! I just put it down to excitement; they’re getting ready for their holidays.
speak better English with Harry podcast - episode 350
put something about/around
Meaning: to spread some information, gossip or rumours
Example:
Sarah put a rumour about that David was getting divorced.
There’s a rumour being put about by some people that the internet is going to be closed down.
A rumour has been put around that the country is going to increase the taxation by 50%.
put across
Meaning: express your opinion or idea clearly and effectively
Example:
How do we put across to the people that we want them to buy our new product?
I just want to put my message across. You know, you are not supposed to do that.
More Information
For more information on English phrasal verbs, English expressions or English Grammar, check out the following links:
English Phrasal verbs with COME
How to talk about the Future in English
