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.