From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishput down phrasal verb1 place put something/somebody ↔ down to put something or someone that you are holding or carrying onto a surface Put those heavy bags down for a minute.2 criticize put somebody ↔ downCRITICIZE to criticize someone and make them feel silly or stupid SYN belittle I hate the way Dave puts me down the whole time.put yourself down Stop putting yourself down.3 write put something ↔ downWRITE to write something, especially a name or number, on a piece of paper or on a list SYN write down Put down your name and address.4 put down a revolution/revolt/rebellion etcSTOP something THAT IS HAPPENING to stop a revolution etc by using force The uprising was put down by the police and the army.5 pay put something ↔ downPAY FOR to pay part of the total cost of something, so that you can pay the rest laterput something ↔ down on They put down a deposit on the goods until Christmas. 6 baby put somebody downDHB to put a baby in its bed We try to put Amy down at six every evening.7 put the phone downTCT to put the receiver back onto the telephone when you have finished speaking to someone SYN hang upput the phone down on She put the phone down on me (=suddenly ended the conversation).8 kill put something ↔ downDHPKILL to kill an animal without causing it pain, usually because it is old or sick SYN put something to sleep We had to have the dog put down.9 I couldn’t put it down spokenINTERESTING used to say that you found a book, game etc extremely interesting Once I’d started reading it I just couldn’t put it down.10 aircraft put (something) downTTA if an aircraft puts down or if a pilot puts it down, it lands, especially because of an emergency The engine failed and the plane put down in the sea. 11 put down a motion/an amendmentPGPSUGGEST to suggest a subject, plan, change in the law etc for a parliament or committee to consider12 leave passenger put somebody down British EnglishTT to stop a vehicle so that passengers can get off at a particular place He asked the taxi to put him down at the end of the road. → put→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
put down• Put the gun down.• The uprising was quickly put down.• The rebellion was put down and its leaders were executed.• She enjoys putting me down in front of other people.• OK, you can all put your hands down now.• Television programs always seem to put down people from the South.put something/somebody ↔ down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put somebody ↔ down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put something ↔ down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put down a revolution/revolt/rebellion etc• My father's father, a soldier in the Black Watch, had helped put down a rebellion one Easter in Dublin.put something ↔ down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put somebody down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put the phone down• Be brisk, polite, and put the phone down.• He put the phone down and listened to its ringing - its machine persistence.• After I have put the phone down I sit gazing at Kyle on the opposite side of the airwell.• He put the phone down in the dining room.• He put the phone down on the cradle and stared at it.• And he had just put the phone down on the only man who could ruin it all for him.• After she had put the phone down, she felt in a daze.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put something ↔ down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.I couldn’t put it down• It's such a good book that I couldn't put it down.• What an amazing book! I just couldn't put it down.put (something) down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put somebody down• He asked two questions and put the phone down.• I did not want to put it down.• Minna put the letter down and shuddered.• As the stage approached, I put one down and waved violently.• Parents may carry her around constantly afraid to put her down for fear she will burst into tears again.• When I put that phone down, I was in tears.• She put her drink down on the bar.• Culley put the phone down, then dialled Mike Dawson's number.put-downˈput-down noun [countable usually singular] CRITICIZEsomething you say that is intended to make someone feel stupid or unimportant SYN snub She was tired of his put-downs.Examples from the Corpus
put-down• The comment was not intended as a put-down but simply a statement of fact.• I didn't mean it as a put-down but I could tell from her response that she took my criticism personally.• Roper, who is as sharp with a put-down as he is with a knockdown, has run out of worthy opponents.• My favourite put-down of all came from Chuck Berry.• Morrissey makes a lousy rock critic though it is hard to disagree with his put-downs.• She could sense the scene coming, foresee the inevitable criticism, the malicious put-downs.• I took his criticism of my work as a real put-down.• She was a master of the sarcastic put-down.• Carla, however, usually had the edge when it came to put-downs.• The best car, the wittiest put-down, and the best dress.From Longman Business Dictionaryput something → down phrasal verb [transitive]1to pay part of the total cost of something as a depositYou will be required to put down a 25% deposit.How much could you afford to put down on a house?2put down a motion/an amendment to suggest a subject, plan, change in the law etc for a parliament or committee to consider → put→ See Verb table 