A-Z Database

A-Z Database

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Put on a brave face/ front

Show outward resolve and courage despite inner misgivings, dates from the mid-19th century.


Put on airs and graces

see Airs and graces


Put on one’s thinking cap

see Thinking cap


Put one’s arse (ass) into gear

Somewhat belatedly, begin to move or take action, American slang from the 1950s, soon adopted in Britain thereafter.


Put one’s back into it

Put one’s back into it is to make a strenuous effort, from the allusion of using the strength of one’s back in physical labour, dates from the late 19...

Read More


Put one’s best foot forward

To put one's best foot forward is a metaphor for making the best possible start in any endeavour. Shakespeare used a similar version, but did not coin...

Read More


Put one’s foot in it

To make a mistake or get into trouble dates from the 1500s when the expression used to be the bishop or some other member of the clergy has ‘put their...

Read More


Put one’s head in the lion’s mouth

Put oneself in a potentially dangerous situation or face up to something bravely, derives from circus lion-tamers’ practice of literally putting their...

Read More


Put one’s nose out of joint

see Nose out of joint


Put one’s skates on

see Get one’s skates on


Put one’s toe in the water

See Dip / put / stick one’s toe / toes in the water


Put ones finger on something

To identify or explain something with precision or certainty, often used in the negative, dates from the late 19th century


Put someone on the spot

Put someone in a difficult or awkward situation is American and dates from the 1920s.


Put someone’s lights out

Since the 1600s this was Standard English for to kill or murder someone but from the early 19th century onwards it was considered low or colloquial. T...

Read More


Put someone’s nose out of joint

see Nose out of joint


back to top