put down

Verb

put down (third-person singular simple present puts down, present participle putting down, simple past and past participle put down)

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To insult, belittle, or demean.
   • They frequently put down their little sister for walking slowly.
   • People try to put us down / Just because we get around.1965, The Who, My Generation

   Antonyms:

   compliment, talk up

2. (transitive) Of money as deposit, to pay.
   • We put down a $1,000 deposit.
3. To halt, eliminate, stop, or squelch, often by force.
   • The government quickly put down the insurrection.
   • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Gameshttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/
     For the 75 years since a district rebellion was put down, The Games have existed as an assertion of the Capital’s power, a winner-take-all contest that touts heroism and...

   Synonyms:

   end, stop, eliminate, extinguish

4. (euphemistic) To euthanize (an animal).
   • Rex was in so much pain, they had to put him down.
   • A couple walking in Kirkleatham Woods, Redcar, heard whimpering and found the terrier-type animal in a mound of earth at about midday. It was rushed to a vet but its injuries were so serious it had to be put down.2016, Dog found buried alive in Redcar with nail in head, BBC

   Synonyms:

   put to sleep, euthanize

5. (euphemistic) To execute (a person), especially extrajudicially.
   • The only thing left to do before putting the plan into action was checking the barracks for stragglers, and putting them down. She placed the first three bombs, then crept to the final door and opened it.2023 October 12, HarryBlank, “Fire in the Hole”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 22 May 2024

   Synonyms:

   execute, down, eliminate

6. To write (something).
   • Put down the first thing you think of on this piece of paper.
   • I hope you don't mind
     That I put down in words
     How wonderful life is while you're in the world1970, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, “Your Song”, in Elton John, performed by Elton John
7. To terminate a call on (a telephone); to hang up.
   • Ray eventually called at 7pm and took the school’s side. He sounded imperious and distant and made me even angrier.
     I told him he sounded just like my father, and put the phone down on him.1992 June 24, Edwina Currie, Diary
   • Don't put the phone down. I want a quick word with him, too.

   Synonyms:

   hang up

   Antonyms:

   pick up

8. To add a name to a list.
   • I've put myself down for the new Spanish conversation course.

   Synonyms:

   register

9. (Ireland, UK) To make prices, or taxes, lower.
   • BP are putting petrol and diesel down in what could be the start of a price war.
10. (idiomatic) To place a baby somewhere to sleep.
    • I had just put Mary down when you rang. So now she's crying again.
11. (idiomatic) To give something as a reason for something else.
    • She put her long life down to daily meditation.
12. (idiomatic) Of an aircraft, to land.
    • The pilot managed to put down in a nearby farm field.

    Synonyms:

    set down, touch down