Put (others) at risk

When you 'put others at risk', you cause them to be in a dangerous or vulnerable position/situation.

Examples

• You put other people's jobs at risk by negotiating such an unfavourable deal.
• The journalist is putting himself at risk by going to report from that war zone.
• The new government legislation puts a lot of small businesses at risk.

Put distance between

If you 'put distance between', you move away from somebody or something or deliberately make a relationship less close.

Examples

• After what happened there, I wanted to put as much distance between me and that town as possible.
• My relationship with my wife was under a lot of strain. I thought it would help if we put some distance between us for a while.
• In light of that company's recent scandal, I think we should consider putting some distance between us and them.

Put some thought into

If you 'put some thought into' something, you devote time, consideration and attention to it.

Examples

• I really appreciated Sandra's present. She clearly put some thought into getting that.
• Stop rushing your writing and start putting some thought into your work!
• I've been putting some thought into the issues we've been having, and I think I've come up with a solution.

Put on airs

When you 'put on airs', you behave as if you are better than others or than you really are.

Examples

• I wish you wouldn't put on airs. You've been doing it since you got that promotion.
• Stop putting on airs, Claire. You are not as good a public speaker as you think you are.

Put (something) (in a particular way)

'Put' in this context means to say or write something in a particular way, and can be seen as a replacement for 'to state'. Variations include 'mildly', 'best', 'subtly', 'clearly', etc. Some, such as 'simply put' and 'well put', are commonly reversed.

Examples

• To say Jenny was not happy when she was fired is putting it mildly!
• Put simply - your recent performances have not been good enough.
• Person A: "It's awful to see man's inhumanity to man." Person B: "Well put. I agree with you totally."
• I think Tom put it best when he said that Frank is too afraid of confrontation to be an effective manager.