HOT POTATO. [potboiler] {n.} A book, play, or film written for the primary purpose of earning money for the author. * /"Reading a cheap potboiler helps me go to sleep," the professor wryly remarked./ [pot call the kettle black] {informal} The person who is criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses; the charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he makes it against. * /When the commissioner accused the road builder of bribery, the contractor said the pot was calling the kettle black./ * /Bill said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was calling the kettle black./ [potluck] See: TAKE POTLUCK. [potluck supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER. [potshot] {n.} A direct shot at an easy, stationary target from behind a protected position or camouflage; criticism. * /Modern journalists like to take potshots at the president of the United States./ [pound] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. [pound away at] {v. phr.} 1. To attack; criticize. * /In his campaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at the administration's foreign policy./ 2. To work industriously. * /Mike was pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels and pickaxes./ [pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum payment authorized by law. * /He had hoped that Peter would be lenient regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his full pound of flesh./ [pound out] {v. phr.} 1. To play a piece of music very loudly on a percussion instrument. * /The boy was pounding out the tune "Mary had a little lamb" on the marimba./ 2. To flatten something with a hammer. * /The bodyshop uses special hammers to pound out the indentations in the bodies of cars./ 3. To produce a piece of writing on a typewriter in haste and without much care. * /She hurriedly pounded out a letter of recommendation for the foreign graduate student./ [pound the pavement] {v. phr.}, {informal} To walk up and down the streets; tramp about. * /John pounded the pavement looking for a job./ * /Mary and Bill pounded the pavement to find an apartment./ [pour] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS. [pour cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON. [pour it on thick] See: LAY IT ON THICK. [pour money down the drain] {v. phr.} To spend one's money unwisely; to waste one's funds. * /"Stop supporting Harry's drug habit," Ralph said. "You're just pouring money down the drain."./ [pour oil on troubled waters] {v. phr.} To quiet a quarrel; say something to lessen anger and bring peace. * /The troops were nearing a bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters./ [pour out] {v.} 1. To tell everything about; talk all about. * /Mary poured out her troubles to her pal./ 2. To come out in great quantity; stream out. * /The people poured out of the building when they heard the fire alarm./ [powder] See: TAKE A POWDER. [powder room] {n.} The ladies' rest room. * /When they got to the restaurant, Mary went to the powder room to wash up./ [power behind the throne] {n. phr.} The person with the real power backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of public figures). * /It is rumored that the First Lady it the power behind the throne in the White House./ [practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF, OUT OF PRACTICE. [presence of mind] {n. phr.} Effective and quick decision-making ability in times of crisis. * /When Jimmy fell into the river, his father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from drowning./ [present] See: AT PRESENT. [press box] {n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that is for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. * /In baseball the official scorer sits in the press box./ [press conference] {n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. * /The reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press conference./ * /The press conference with the senator was broadcast on television./ [press one's luck] or [push one's luck] {v. phr.} To depend too much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. * /When John won his first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased his bets./ * /If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck./ [press the flesh] {v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one's popularity during political elections. * /Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER. [pressure group] {n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. * /Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aims./ [pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY. [pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH. [pretty penny] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /Their new house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a pretty penny./ [prevail upon] or [prevail on] {v.} To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. * /He prevailed upon the musician to entertain instead of the absent speaker./ * /He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence./ [prey on] or [prey upon] {v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. * /Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. * /Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. * /Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. * /Ill health had preyed on him for years./ * /Business worries preyed on his mind./ [prey on one's mind] {v. phr.} To afflict; worry. * /He couldn't sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./ [price on one's head] {n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who catches a thief or a murderer. * /The hotel manager learned that the quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a price on his head./ [prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS. [prick up one's ears] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. * /The woman pricked up her ears when she heard them talking about her./ [pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE. [pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and hardships one encounters while being made pretty. - A proverb. * /"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know that pride must take a pinch?"/ [pride oneself on] {v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in; be much pleased by. * /She prided herself on her beauty./ * /He prided himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF. [print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT. [private] See: IN PRIVATE. [private eye] {n.}, {colloquial} A private investigator; a detective. * /Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/ [progress] See: IN PROGRESS. [promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE. [promise the moon] {v. phr.} To promise something impossible. * /A politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters' respect./ * /I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON. [proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual experience can the value of something be tested. - A proverb. * /He was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars. "Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."/ [prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES. [psyched up] {adj.}, {informal} Mentally alert; ready to do something. * /The students were all psyched up for their final exams./ [psych out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To find out the real motives of (someone). * /Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go berserk; to lose one's nerve. * /Joe says he doesn't ride his motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out./ * /Jim psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and wants!/ [Public] See: JOHN Q. PUBLIC. [public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC EYE. [public-address system] {n.} A set of devices for making a speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. * /The public-address system broke down during the senator's speech./ * /The news was announced over the public-address system./ [public enemy] {n. phr.} A famous criminal. * /Al Capone of Chicago used to be Public Enemy Number One during prohibition./ [public speaker] {n.} A person who speaks to the public. * /A public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people./ [puffed up] {adj.} Elated; proud; conceited. * /Just because Bob inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so puffed up./ [pull] See: LONG HAUL or LONG PULL. [pull a fast one] {v. phr.} To gain the advantage over one's opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. * /When Smith was told by his boss that he might be fired, he called the company president, his father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted./ [pull a long face] See: LONG FACE. [pull date] {n.}, {informal} The date stamped on baked goods, dairy products, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on which they may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in a retail store. * /This pie is way past the pull date - small wonder it's rotten./ [pull down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To catch (a ball) after a hard run. * /The outfielder pulled down a long drive to center field./ 2. To earn. * /Mr. Blake pulls down $500 a week./ * /John pulled down an A in algebra by studying hard./ Compare: HAUL DOWN. [pull down about one's ears] or [pull down around one's ears] See: ABOUT ONE'S EARS. [pull in] See: HAUL IN. [pull in one's horns] or [draw in one's horns] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back down on a promise. * /He said he could beat any man there single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward./ 2. To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or activities; save. * /After the business failed, Father had to pull in his horns./ * /As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in one's horns more and more as to physical activity./ [pull off] {v.}, {informal} To succeed in (something thought difficult or impossible); do. * /Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible by winning three golf tournaments in one year./ * /The bandits pulled off a daring bank robbery./ Compare: PUT ACROSS(2). [pull one's chestnuts out of the fire] To do someone else a great favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the process. * /Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for their more powerful neighbors./ [pull oneself together] {v. phr.} To become calm after being excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. * /It had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself together./ [pull oneself up by the bootstraps] or [pull oneself up by one's own bootstraps] {adv. phr.} To succeed without help; succeed by your own efforts. * /He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps./ [pull one's leg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept a ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of something; trick. * /For a moment, I actually believed that his wife had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg./ * /Western cowboys loved to pull a stranger's leg./ Compare: STRING ALONG. - [leg-pulling] {n.} * /Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys' leg-pulling./ [pull one's punches] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not to hit as hard as you can. * /Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing match./ 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. - Usually used in the negative. * /The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any punches./ Contrast: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER. [pull one's teeth] {v. phr.} To take power away from; make powerless. * /The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by blocking its ammunition supply line./ * /The student government council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth./ [pull one's weight] {v. phr.} To do your full share of work; do your part. * /In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his weight./ * /When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each child must pull his own weight./ Compare: WORTH ONE'S SALT. [pullout] {n.} An evacuation. * /The pullout of the American military proceeded on schedule./ [pull out] {v. phr.} 1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. * /The defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories./ 2. To leave (said about trains). * /The train pulled out of Grand Central Station just as the foreign students got there./ 3. To remove by order; evacuate. * /Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia./ [pull out of a hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get as if by magic; invent; imagine. * /When the introduction to a dictionary tells you how many hours went into its making, these figures were not pulled out of a hat./ * /Let's see you pull an excuse out of your hat./ [pull over] {v.} To drive to the side of the road and stop. * /The policeman told the speeder to pull over./ * /Everyone pulled over to let the ambulance pass./ [pull rank] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To assert one's superior position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a privilege or a favor. * /How come you always get the night duty? - Phineas Leman pulled rank on me./ [pull something on one] {v. phr.} To perpetrate something prejudicial; deceive. * /Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when, after going with her for three years, he suddenly married another girl./ [pull strings] or [pull wires] {v. phr.}, {informal} To secretly use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain your wishes. * /If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull strings for you./ * /Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the crowded hotel./ - [wire-puller] {n.} * /Bill got a ticket for speeding, but his father is a wire-puller and got it fixed./ - [wire-pulling] {n.} * /It took some wire-pulling to get the mayor to come to the party./ [pull the plug on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To expose (someone's) secret activities. * /The citizens' committee pulled the plug on the mayor, and he lost his election./ [pull the rug out from under] {v. phr.}, {informal} To withdraw support unexpectedly from; to spoil the plans of. * /Bill thought he would be elected, but his friends pulled the rug out from under him and voted for Vin./ * /We were planning a vacation, but the baby's illness pulled the rug out from under us./ [pull the wool over one's eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fool someone into thinking well of you; deceive. * /The businessman had pulled the wool over his partner's eyes about their financial position./ * /Bob tried to pull the wool over his teacher's eyes, but she was too smart for him./ [pull through] {v.} 1. To help through; bring safely through a difficulty or sudden trouble; save. * /A generous loan showed the bank's faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble./ 2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster; escape death or failure. * /By a near-miracle, he pulled through after the smashup./ [pull together] {v.} To join your efforts with those of others; work on a task together; cooperate. * /Many men must pull together if a large business is to succeed./ * /Tim was a good football captain because he always got his teammates to pull together./ [pull up] {v.} 1. To check the forward motion of; halt; stop. * /He pulled up his horse at the gate./ 2. To tell (someone) to stop doing something; say (someone) is doing wrong and must stop; scold. * /Jim talked rudely to Mother, and Father pulled him up./ * /Ann said in her report that America was discovered in 1634, and the teacher pulled her up./ 3. To stop moving forward; halt. * /The car slowed down and pulled up at the curb./ 4. To come even with; move up beside. * /The other boat pulled up alongside us./ [pull up one's socks] {v. phr.} To try to do better, either in terms of one's behavior or at a task one is performing. * /I'll have to pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today./ [pull up short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /He pulled up short in his red car at the corner when he saw a pregnant lady crossing./ * /When Mark saw that he was hurting Jill's feelings, he pulled up short and started to talk about something entirely different./ [pull up stakes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To leave the place where you have been living. * /We are going to pull up stakes and move to California./ * /The Jones family pulled up stakes three times in two years./ [pull wires] See: PULL STRINGS. [punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH, PACK A PUNCH, PULL ONE'S PUNCHES, TAKE A PUNCH AT. [punch-drunk] {adj.} 1. Dazed or become dulled in the mind from being hit in the head. * /He was a punch-drunk boxer who made his living shining shoes./ 2. In a foggy state of mind; groggy. * /Mary was so thrilled at winning the contest she acted punch-drunk./ * /Mark was punch-drunk for a few minutes after he fell off his bicycle./ [puppy love] also [calf love] {n.}, {informal} The first love of very young people. * /When John and Mary began going around together in junior high school, their parents said it was just puppy love./ [pure and simple] {adj.} Simply stated; basic. - Follows the noun it modifies and is used for emphasis. * /The problem, pure and simple, is finding a baby-sitter./ * /The question, pure and simple, is whether you will support me./ Compare: BOIL DOWN(3). [purpose] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, ON PURPOSE, TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. [purse] See: LINE ONE'S POCKETS also LINE ONE'S PURSE. [purse strings] {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of the club's purse strings./ [push around] {v.}, {informal} To be bossy with; bully. * /Don't try to push me around!/ * /Paul is always pushing the smaller children around./ [push off] or [shove off] {v.} 1. To push a boat away from the shore. * /Before Tom could reach the boat, Jake had shoved off./ 2. {slang} To start; leave. * /We were ready to push off at ten o'clock, but had to wait for Jill./ * /Jim was planning to stay at the beach all day, but when the crowds arrived he shoved off./ [push on] {v. phr.} To press forward; proceed forward laboriously. * /The exhausted mountain climbers pushed on, despite the rough weather, as the peak was already in sight./ [push one's luck] See: PRESS ONE'S LUCK. [pushover] {n.} 1. Something easy to accomplish or overcome. * /For Howard steering a boat is a pushover as he was raised on a tropical island./ 2. A person easily seduced. * /It is rumored that she is a pushover when she has a bit to drink./ [push over] {v. phr.} To upset; overthrow. * /She is standing on her feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won't push her over./ * /The wind in Chicago can be so strong that sometimes I'm afraid I'll get pushed over./ [push the panic button] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very much frightened; nervous or excited, especially at a time of danger or worry. * /John thought he saw a ghost and pushed the panic button./ * /Keep cool; don't hit the panic button!/ Syn.: LOSE ONE'S HEAD. [push-up] {n.} An exercise to build strong arms and shoulders, in which you lie on your stomach and push your body up on your hands and toes. * /At the age of seventy, Grandpa still does twenty push-ups every day./ * /The football team does push-ups every day./ [push up daisies] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be dead and buried. * /I'll be around when you're pushing up daisies./ * /Don't play with guns or you may push up the daisies./ [put] See: HARD PUT or HARD PUT TO IT, STAY PUT. [put about] {v. phr.} - Nautical usage. To turn in the opposite direction; turn around. * /When we saw the storm clouds thickening in the sky, we put about quickly and raced ashore./ [put a bee in one's bonnet] See: BEE IN ONE'S BONNET. [put a bug in one's ear] or [put a flea in one's ear] See: BUG IN ONE'S EAR. [put across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly; make yourself understood; communicate. * /He knew how to put his ideas across./ Compare: GET ACROSS. 2. {informal} To get (something) done successfully; bring to success; make real. * /He put across a big sales campaign./ * /The new librarian put across a fine new library building./ Syn.: PUT OVER(2). Compare: PULL OFF. [put all one's eggs in one basket] {v. phr.} To place all your efforts, interests, or hopes in a single person or thing. * /Going steady in high school is putting all your eggs in one basket too soon./ * /To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs in one basket./ * /He has decided to specialize in lathe work, although he knows it is risky to put all his eggs in one basket./ [put a new face on] {v. phr.} To alter the aspect of something; change. * /Mr. Merry man's announcement of his candidacy for governor puts an entirely new face on the political scene in our state./ [put an end to] or [put a stop to] {v. phr.} 1. To make (something) end; stop; end. * /The farmer built an electric fence around his field to put an end to trespassing./ * /The principal said that running in the halls was dangerous, and told the teachers to put a stop to it./ 2. To destroy or kill. * /The new highway took most of the traffic from the old road and put an end to Mr. Hanson's motel business./ * /When the horse broke his leg, the farmer put an end to him./ [put aside] {v. phr.} 1. To save; put something aside for a special purpose. * /Peter puts $100 aside every week./ 2. To let go of; put away. * /The teacher to the students, "Put your books aside and start writing your tests!"/ [put away] {v.} 1. To put in the right place or out of sight. * /She put away the towels./ 2. To lay aside; stop thinking about. * /He put his worries away for the weekend./ 3. {informal} To eat or drink. * /He put away a big supper and three cups of coffee./ Compare: STOW AWAY. 4. {informal} To put in a mental hospital. * /He had to put his wife away when she became mentally ill./ 5. To put to death for a reason; kill. * /He had his dog put away when it became too old and unhappy./ [put back the clock] or [turn back the clock] {v. phr.} To go back in time; relive the past. * /If I could put back the clock I'd give more thought to preparing for a career./ * /Richard wishes that he had lived in frontier days, but he can't turn back the clock./ [put by] {v.} To save for the future; lay aside. * /He had put by a good sum during a working lifetime./ [putdown] {n.} An insult, * /It was a nasty putdown when John called his sister a fat cow./ [put down] {v. phr.} 1. To stop by force, crush. * /In 24 hours the general had entirely put down the rebellion./ 2. To put a stop to; check. * /She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good life./ 3. To write a record of; write down. * /He put down the story while it was fresh in his mind./ 4. To write a name in a list as agreeing to do something. * /The banker put himself down for $1000./ * /Sheila put Barbara down for the decorations./ 5. To decide the kind or class of; characterize. * /He put the man down as a bum./ * /He put it down as a piece of bad luck./ 6. To name as a cause; attribute. * /He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions./ 7. To dig; drill; sink. * /He put down a new well./ [put forth] {v. phr.} To produce; issue; send out. * /In the spring the apple trees put forth beautiful white blossoms./ * /The chairman of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by mail./ [put ideas into one's head] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to do something negative; put one up to something. * /Billy would never have poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been putting ideas into his head./ [put in] {v.} 1. To add to what has been said; say (something) in addition to what others say. * /While the boys were discussing the car accident, Ben put in that the road was icy./ * /My father put in a word for me and I got the job./ 2. To buy and keep in a store to sell. * /He put in a full stock of drugs./ 3. To spend (time). * /He put in many years as a printer./ * /He put in an hour a day reading./ 4. To plant. * /He put in a row of radishes./ 5. To stop at a port on a journey by water. * /After the fire, the ship put in for repairs./ 6. To apply; ask. - Used with "for". * /When a better job was open, he put in for it./ * /The sailor put in for time to visit his family before the ship went to sea./ [put in a word for] {v. phr.} To speak in favor of someone; recommend someone. * /"Don't worry about your job application," Sam said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection committee."/ [put in an appearance] also [make an appearance] {v. phr.} To be present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear. * /He put in an appearance at work, but he was too ill to stay./ * /The president put in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in./ [put in mind of] {v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To remind of; suggest to; call up the memory of. * /She puts me in mind of my sister./ * /That puts me in mind of a story./ [put in one's place] {v. phr.}, {informal} To criticize someone for impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. * /The assistant was trying to take command when the professor put him in his place by saying, "No, I'm the boss here."/ * /She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker in his place with just a glance./ Syn.: CUT DOWN TO SIZE. [put in one's two cents worth] See: TWO CENTS(2). [put in one's way] See: PUT IN THE WAY OF. [put in the way of] or [put in one's way] {v. phr.} To set before (someone); give to (someone); show the way to; help toward. * /After Joe graduated, the coach put him in the way of a good job./ * /The librarian put me in the way of a lot of new material on the subject of my report./ [put (it) in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE. [put (it) in writing] See: BLACK AND WHITE. [put it on thick] See: LAY IT ON. [put off] {v.} 1. {informal} To cause confusion in; embarrass; displease. * /I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his proposal./ * /The man's slovenliness put me off./ 2. To wait and have (something) at a later time; postpone. * /They put off the picnic because of the rain./ 3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside. * /When he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off./ * /When the bill collector called, Mrs. Smith managed to put him off./ 4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract. * /Little Jeannie began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to put her off./ 5. To move out to sea; leave shore. * /They put off in small boats to meet the coming ship./ Syn.: PUT OUT. [put on] {v. phr.} 1. To dress in. * /The boy took off his clothes and put on his pajamas./ * /Mother put a coat on the baby./ 2a. To pretend; assume; show. * /Mary isn't really sick; she's only putting on./ * /He put on a smile./ * /The child was putting on airs./ 2b. To exaggerate; make too much of. * /That's rather putting it on./ Compare: LAY IT ON. 3. To begin to have more (body weight); gain (weight). * /Mary was thin from sickness, and the doctor said she must put on ten pounds./ * /Too many sweets and not enough exercise will make you put on weight./ 4a. To plan and prepare; produce; arrange; give; stage. * /The senior class put on a dance./ * /The actor put on a fine performance./ 4b. To make (an effort). * /The runner put on an extra burst of speed and won the race./ 5. To choose to send; employ on a job. * /The school put on extra men to get the new building ready./ [put-on] {n.} An act of teasing; the playing of a practical joke on someone. * /Eric didn't realize that it was a put-on when his friends phoned him that he won the lottery./ [put on airs] {v. phr.} To show conceit; act in a superior or condescending manner. * /The fact that her parents own a villa in Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs./ [put on an act] {v. phr.} 1. To perform a play. * /The seventh grade put on a lovely act for Christmas for the parents./ 2. To pretend. * /"If you always put on an act," her father said, "people will never know who you really are."/ [put on ice] See: ON ICE(2). [put one in one's place] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE. [put one in the picture] {v. phr.} To inform someone of all the facts about a given situation. * /Once you're back from your overseas trip, we'll put you in the picture about recent developments at home./ [put one on a pedestal] {v. phr.} To exaggeratedly worship or admire a person. * /Daniel puts Elaine on a pedestal and caters to her every whim./ [put one on one's feet] See: ON ONE'S FEET(2). [put one out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY(3). [put one through one's paces] {v. phr.} To train and discipline someone; test one's abilities. * /The new recruits were certainly put through their paces by the drill sergeant./ [put one wise] {v. phr.} To bring one up-to-date; inform someone; explain. * /Our old friend David put us wise as to where the best used cars could be found in Chicago./ [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./ * /I'm sure you can make the football team 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 forward./ [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 Bob to do, but I tried to put myself in his place./ * /If you will put yourself in the customer's shoes you may realize why the thing isn't selling./ [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 short circuit./ [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 down./ [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 Jones was one of them./ * /She put her foot in her mouth with her joke about that church, not knowing that one of the guests belonged to it./ [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 his hand to carpentry./ [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. * /We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't like it when he quit./ [put one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND. [put one's heart on one's sleeve] See: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE. [put one's money on a scratched horse] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bet on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning. * /You bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money on a scratched horse?/ Compare: STACK THE CARDS. [put one's nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make you jealous; leave you out of favor. * /When Jane accepted Tom's invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint./ 2. To ruin your plans; cause you disappointment. * /Joe's mother put his nose out of joint by not letting him go to the movie./ [put one's house in order] or [set one's house in order] {v. phr.} To arrange your affairs in good order. * /Grandfather knew he would not live long and set his house in order./ * /When Mr. Black died, his lawyer helped the widow put her house in order./ [put one's shoulder to the wheel] {v. phr.} To make a great effort yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. * /The effort to get a new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the wheel./ * /The company was failing in business until a new manager put his shoulder to the wheel./ [put on one's thinking cap] {v. phr.} To think hard and long about some problem or question. * /Miss Stone told her pupils to put on their thinking caps before answering the question./ [put on paper] See: BLACK AND WHITE. [put on the back burner] See: ON ICE. [put on the dog] {v. phr.} To behave ostentatiously in terms of dress and manner. * /"Stop putting on the dog with me," Sue cried at Roy. "I knew the real you from way hack!"/ [put on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE. [put on the map] {v. phr.} To make (a place) well known. * /The first successful climb of Mount Matterhorn put Zermatt, Switzerland, on the map./ * /Shakespeare put his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon on the map./ [put out] {v.} 1. To make a flame or light stop burning; extinguish; turn off. * /Please put the light out when you leave the room./ * /The firemen put out the blaze./ 2. To prepare for the public; produce; make. * /For years he had put out a weekly newspaper./ * /It is a small restaurant, which puts out an excellent dinner./ 3. To invest or loan money. * /He put out all his spare money at 4 percent or better./ 4. To make angry; irritate; annoy. * /It puts the teacher out to be lied to./ * /Father was put out when Jane spilled grape juice on his new suit./ 5. {informal} To cause inconvenience to; bother. * /He put himself out to make things pleasant for us./ * /Will it put you out if I borrow your pen?/ Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY. 6. To retire from play in baseball. * /The runner was put out at first base./ 7. To go from shore; leave. * /A Coast Guard boat put out through the waves./ 8. {vulgar}, {avoidable} Said of women easy and ready to engage in sexual intercourse. * /It is rumored that Hermione gets her promotions as fast as she does because she puts out./ [put out of action] See: OUT OF ACTION. [put out of the way] {v. phr.} To kill. * /When people spoke against the dictator, he had them put out of the way./ * /The old dog was very sick, and Father had the animal doctor put him out of the way./ [put over] {v.} 1. To wait to a later time; postpone. * /They put over the meeting to the following Tuesday./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 2. {informal} To make a success of; complete. * /He put over a complex and difficult business deal./ Syn.: BRING OFF, PUT ACROSS, SLIP OVER. 3. {informal} To practice deception; trick; fool. - Used with "on". * /George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick and needed him./ * /Tom really slipped one over on us when he came to the Halloween party dressed as a witch./ [put someone on] {v.} To play a joke on someone by saying or doing things that are only pretense; kid. * /When the voice on the phone told Mrs. Jones she had won a $10,000 prize, she thought someone was putting her on./ [put that in your pipe and smoke it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To understand something told you; accept something as fact or reality; not try to change it. - Usually used as a command, normally only in speech, and often considered rude. * /People don't vote against Santa Claus, and you might as well put that in your pipe and smoke it./ * /I am not going to do that and you can put that in your pipe and smoke it./ [put the bite on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask (for money, favors, etc.) * /John put the bite on his friend for several tickets to the dance./ * /Willie Mays put the bite on the Giants for a large raise./ [put the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE. [put their heads together] or [lay their heads together] {v. phr.}, {informal} To plan or consider things together; discuss something as a group; talk it over. * /They put their heads together and decided on a gift./ * /We laid our heads together and decided to have a picnic./ [put through] {v. phr.} 1. To carry out; arrange. * /If Jim can put through one more financial transaction like this one, we will be rich./ 2. To connect (said of telephone calls). * /The telephone operator had to put me through to Zambia as there is no direct dialing there yet./ [put through one's paces] {v. phr.}, {informal} To test the different abilities and skills of a person or a thing; call for a show of what one can do. * /He put his new car through its paces./ * /Many different problems put the new mayor through his paces in the first months of his term./ [put to bed] {v. phr.} 1. To put to rest for the night. * /Father put the three children to bed./ * /The boy seemed ill, so the nurse put him to bed./ 2. {informal} To complete preparations and print. * /The newspaper was put to bed at 1:15 A.M./ * /The pressroom was late in putting the sports section to bed./ [put to it] {adj. phr.} Hard pressed; having trouble; in difficulty; puzzled. * /When he lost his job, he was rather put to it for a while to provide for his family./ * /The boy was put to it to answer the teacher's question./ [put to rights] or [set to rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} To put in good order; clean up. * /It took the company a long time to put the office to rights after the fire./ * /It took Mrs. Smith an hour to set the room to rights after the party./ [put to sea] {v. phr.} To start a voyage. * /The captain said the ship would put to sea at six in the morning./ * /In the days of sailing ships, putting to sea depended on the tides./ [put to shame] {v. phr.} 1. To disgrace. * /The cleanliness of European cities puts our cities to shame./ * /That filthy dump puts our town to shame./ 2. To do much better than surpass. * /Einstein put other physicists to shame when he proved his theory of relativity correct./ [put to sleep] {v. phr.} 1. To cause to fall asleep. * /Mother used to put us to sleep by telling us a good-night story and giving us a kiss./ 2. To kill with