P
Idioms beginning with "P"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of P:
[put one's hand to] or [set one's hand to] or [turn one's hand to] {v. phr.}
To start working at; try to do.
Hal does a good job at everything mat he turns his hand to.
* /After Mr. Sullivan found farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned […]
[put one's hand to the plow] or [set one's hand to the plow] {v. phr.}
To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big job.
We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't like it when he quit.
[put one's house in order] or [set one's house in order] {v. phr.}
To arrange your affairs in good order.
Grandfather knew he would not live long and set his house in order.
* /When Mr. Black died, his lawyer helped the widow put her house in […]
[put one's money on a scratched horse] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To bet on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning.
You bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money on a scratched horse?
Compare: [STACK THE […]
[put one's nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal}
1. To make you jealous; leave you out of favor.
When Jane accepted Tom's invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint.
2. To ruin your plans; cause you disappointment.
* /Joe's mother put his […]
[put one's shoulder to the wheel] {v. phr.}
To make a great effort yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate.
The effort to get a new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the wheel.
* /The company was failing in business […]
[put oneself in another's place] or [put oneself in another's shoes] {v. phr.}
To understand another person's feeling imaginatively; try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into his trouble.
* /It seemed like a dreadful thing for […]
[put out] {v.}
1. To make a flame or light stop burning; extinguish; turn off.
Please put the light out when you leave the room.
The firemen put out the blaze.
2. To prepare for the public; produce; make.
* /For years he had put out a […]