English Phrase of the Day

put down

Definitions

English > English
put down
Why don't you put down your briefcase and stay awhile?
1. v. To insult, belittle, or demean.
They frequently put down their little sister for walking slowly.
2. v. (of money as deposit) To pay.
We put down a $1,000 deposit.
3. v. To halt, eliminate, stop, or squelch, often by force.
The government quickly put down the insurrection.
4. v. (euphemistic) To euthanize (an animal).
Rex was in so much pain, they had to put him down.
5. v. To write (something).
Put down the first thing you think of on this piece of paper.
6. v. (of a telephone) To terminate a call; to hang up.
Don't put the phone down. I want a quick word with him, too.
7. v. To add a name to a list.
I've put myself down for the new Spanish conversation course.
8. v. To make prices, or taxes, lower.
BP are putting petrol and diesel down in what could be the start of a price war.
9. v. To place a baby somewhere to sleep.
I had just put Mary down when you rang. So now she's crying again.
10. v. (idiomatic, of an aircraft) To land.
The pilot managed to put down in a nearby farm field.
11. v. To drop someone off, or let them out of a vehicle.
The taxi put him down outside the hotel.
12. v. To cease, temporarily or permanently, reading (a book).
I was unable to put down The Stand: it was that exciting.
13. n. alternative spelling of put-down
Analysis
put
1. v. To place something somewhere.
She put her books on the table.
2. v. To bring or set into a certain relation, state or condition.
Put your house in order!
He is putting all his energy into this one task.
down
1. n. (especially southern England) A hill, especially a chalk hill; rolling grassland
We went for a walk over the downs.
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England.
2. n. (usually plural) A field, especially one used for horse racing.
3. n. (mostly) A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep.

Example Sentences

How much did we put down and how much is our mortgage?

They'll put down new pipes.

Those who reject shortfalls and put down any excess.

I'm sure neither of us want it to go the way of Warsaw, but be in no doubt that I will put down this outrage with the utmost vigour.

If you don't put down the gun, I'm going to start screaming, and you're going to have a lot of explaining to do to the night watchman.

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