P

[put one's back to it]  {v. phr.}

To make a real effort; to try.

You can finish the job by noon if you put your back to it.

[put one's best foot forward]  {v. phr.},  {informal}

To try to make a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best.

During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward.

* /When Ted applied for the job he put his best foot  […]

[put one's cards on the table]

See: [LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE].

[put oneself in another's place] or [put oneself in another's shoes]  {v. phr.}

To understand another person's feeling imaginatively; try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into his trouble.

* /It seemed like a dreadful thing for  […]

[put one's finger on] also [lay one's finger on]  {v. phr.}

To find exactly.

The engineers couldn't put their fingers on the reason for the rocket's failure to orbit.

* /We called in an electrician hoping he could put a finger on the cause of the  […]

[put one's foot down]  {v. phr.},  {informal}

To take a decided stand; be stubborn in decision.

John didn't want to practice his piano lesson, but his teacher put his foot down.

* /When it came to smoking pot at parties, our parents put their foot  […]

[put one's foot in it] or [put one's foot in one's mouth]  {v. phr.},  {informal}

To speak carelessly and rudely; hurt another's feelings without intending to; make a rude mistake.

* /He put his foot in it with his remark about self-made men because  […]

[put one's hand on]

See: [LAY ONE'S HANDS ON] (3).

[put one's hand to] or [set one's hand to] or [turn one's hand to]  {v. phr.}

To start working at; try to do.

Hal does a good job at everything mat he turns his hand to.

* /After Mr. Sullivan found farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned  […]

[put one's hand to the plow] or [set one's hand to the plow]  {v. phr.}

To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big job.