Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (174 page)

Put it anywhere. 1
.
Set down your burden anyplace that is convenient. (Literal.)
M
ARY
: What shall I do with this? J
ANE
: Oh, put it anywhere
.
T
OM
: Where does this lamp go, lady? S
UE
: Please put it anywhere. I'll move it later
.
2
.
AND
Put it there
.
Sit down anywhere. (Literally, place your buttocks anywhere. Colloquial and very familiar.)
T
OM
: Hi, Fred. Is there room for me here? F
RED
: Sure, man! Put it anywhere
.
B
OB
: Come in and set a spell. We'll have a little talk. J
OHN
: Nice place you've got here. B
OB
: Put it there, old buddy. How you been?

Put it there. 1
.
Go to Put it anywhere.
2
.
AND
Put 'er there
.
Shake hands with me. (Literally, put your hand there, in mine. Colloquial. The apostrophe on
'er
is not always used.)
B
OB
(extending his hand): Sounds great to me, old buddy. Put it there. F
RED
: Thanks, Bob. I'm glad we could close the deal
.
B
OB
: Good to see you, Fred. F
RED
: Put 'er there, Bob.

put some teeth into
something to increase the power of something.
The mayor tried to put some teeth into the new law
.
The statement is too weak. Put some teeth into it.

put
someone or something
to the test
to test someone or something to see how much can be achieved.
I think I can jump that far, but no one has ever put me to the test
.
I'm going to put my car to the test right now, and see how fast it will go.

put
someone's
nose out of joint
to offend someone; to cause someone to feel slighted or insulted.
I'm afraid I put his nose out of joint by not inviting him to the picnic
.
A: I'm really insulted! B: I didn't mean to put your nose out of joint. I meant no harm.

put two and two together
to figure something out from the information available.
Well, I put two and two together and came up with an idea of who did it
.
Don't worry. John won't figure it out. He can't put two and two together.

Other books

Playing for Keeps by McLane, LuAnn
Strip You Bare by Maisey Yates
The Dress Lodger by Holman, Sheri
A Very Merry Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings
Wicked Highlander by Donna Grant
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong
Dancing Dudes by Mike Knudson
The Third Figure by Collin Wilcox