P
Idioms beginning with "P"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
Categories:
Contents of P:
[put to use] {v. phr.}
To use.
During the early part of the Korean war the cooks and office workers of the U.S. Army were put to use in battle.
Henry decided to put his dictionary to use.
I wish you'd put the lawn mower to use!
[put two and two together] {v. phr.}
To make decisions based on available proofs; reason from the known facts; conclude; decide.
He had put two and two together and decided where they had probably gone.
* /It was just a mater of putting two and […]
[put up] {v.}
1a. To make and pack (especially a lunch or medicine); get ready; prepare.
Every morning Mother puts up lunches for the three children.
The druggist put up the medicine that the doctor had prescribed.
Compare: [MAKE UP] (1).
[…]
[put-up] {adj.}
Artificially arranged; plotted; phony; illegal.
The FBI was sure that the bank robbers worked together with an insider and that the whole affair was a put-up job.
[put up a (brave, good, etc.) fight] {v. phr.}
To resist.
He put up a good fight but he was bound to lose in the end to the older, more experienced chess player.
[put up a (brave or good) front] {v. phr.}
To act courageously, even though one is actually afraid.
When Joe was taken in for his open heart surgery, he put up a brave front, although his hands were shaking.
[put up or shut up] {v. phr.} {informal}
1. To bet your money on what you say or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude.
* /The man from out of town kept saying their team would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or […]
[put upon] {v.}
To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. — Used in the passive or in the past participle.
Martha was put upon by the bigger girls.
Arthur was a much put-upon person.
[put up to] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To talk to and make do; persuade to; get to do.
Older boys put us up to painting the statue red.
Compare: [EGG ON].
[put up with] {v.}
To accept patiently; bear.
We had to put up with Jim's poor table manners because he refused to change.
The mother told her children, "I refuse to put up with your tracking in mud!"
Compare: [STAND FOR].