phrasal verb · informal
put someone in their place
UK/pʊt ˈsʌmwʌn ɪn ðeə(r) pleɪs/US/pʊt ˈsʌmwʌn ɪn ðɛr pleɪs/PUT·some·one·IN·their·PLACE
to make someone realise they have behaved wrongly, often by reprimanding or humiliating them
Examples
“When he started boasting, his colleague put him in his place with a sharp remark.”
“The coach put the player in his place after repeated poor performances.”
“She won't hesitate to put anyone in their place if they are rude.”
Band 8 sentence
“When the intern started taking undue credit, the supervisor calmly put him in his place during the meeting.”
Collocations
- put someone in their place with a remark/reprimand
Word family
Common mistakes
put down→put someone in their place
Say it for a higher band
5criticise→6put down→7+put someone in their place
Synonyms
put down
Easily confused
put down
“He put her down in front of everyone by mocking her idea.”
Related words
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In put …
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