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put away

A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To put things back where they belong, or to eat a lot, or to send someone to jail.

Literal meaning: To place something into storage, out of sight.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To tidy something by placing it in its proper place.

"Please put your toys away before dinner."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

(informal) To send someone to prison or a mental institution.

"The judge put him away for fifteen years for his crimes."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

(informal) To eat or drink a large amount.

"I don't know how she does it — she can put away three portions and still want dessert."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 neutral

To save money over time.

"He had put away enough money over the years to retire comfortably."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The tidying sense is the most common and appropriate at A2 level. 'Put away' meaning to imprison is colloquial British/American English. Meaning to consume large amounts of food/drink is informal. Saving money is similar to 'put aside.'

Commonly used with

toys clothes money food criminal groceries

Forms

Base
put away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts away
he/she/it
Past simple
put away
yesterday
Past participle
put away
have + pp
-ing form
putting away
continuous

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