Test your knowledge of idioms and phrases with this grammar exercise.
1. John, put a ........................................ in it! Can you not see that I am listening to the radio?
'Put a cork in it' means be quiet.
2. She never missed even a single opportunity to put me ................................................ and that was the reason we decided to part ways.
To put someone down is to criticize him or her.
3. I wish you would not put your ................................................... in where it is not wanted.
To put one's nose in is to interfere in someone's business.
4. My neighbor likes to put .................................................. in front of me.
'To put on the dog' is to try to seem richer than you really are.
5. They put him ..................................................... for fourteen years but that did not reform him.
To put someone away is to send him or her to prison.
6. Do not believe what she says. She is just putting you ..................................................!
To put somebody on is to fool or tease him or her.
7. Feel free to call me if you cannot find a good hotel. I will put you ..................................................
To put somebody up is to provide accommodation.
8. I put ...................................................... on him but that did not help because he was already broke.
To put the bite on someone is to try to get money from him or her.
9. During the identification parade, the girl put .................................................. on the man who killed her mother.
To put the finger on somebody is to identify him or her.
10. My girlfriend is putting ................................................... on me to buy her a diamond necklace.
To put the screws on somebody is to pressure them to do something.
11. He suspected that his business partner was putting ................................................. him, but he had nothing to prove it.
To put something over on somebody is to deceive him or her.
12. The hostess really put ....................................................... to see that everyone was comfortable.
To put oneself out is to take pains to do something.
Answers
1. John, put a cork in it! Can you not see that I am listening to the radio?
2. She never missed even a single opportunity to put me down and that was the reason we decided to part ways.
3. I wish you would not put your nose in where it is not wanted.
4. My neighbor likes to put on the dog in front of me.
5. They put him away for fourteen years but that did not reform him.
6. Do not believe what she says. She is just putting you on!
7. Feel free to call me if you cannot find a good hotel. I will put you up.
8. I put the bite on him but that did not help because he was already broke.
9. During the identification parade, the girl put the finger on the man who killed her mother.
10. My girlfriend is putting the screws on me to buy her a diamond necklace.
11. He suspected that his business partner was putting something over on him, but he had nothing to prove it.
12. The hostess really put herself out to see that everyone was comfortable.
