put down
To lay something down, to say mean things to make someone feel bad, or to end a sick animal's suffering.
Meanings
To place something on a surface or in a lower position.
"She put down her coffee and turned to face him."
To criticise someone harshly or to make them feel stupid or worthless.
"He has a habit of putting his colleagues down in meetings, which makes everyone uncomfortable."
To end a sick or injured animal's life humanely.
"The vet said the dog was suffering too much and that the kindest thing was to put him down."
To use force to stop a rebellion, protest, or uprising.
"Government troops put down the revolt within three days."
One of the most versatile phrasal verbs in English with many distinct senses. The 'criticise/humiliate' sense is very common in everyday speech. 'Put down' as a noun means a hurtful remark. The euthanasia sense is a well-known euphemism.
Commonly used with
Forms
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