put together

put together

1. verb To build or assemble something; to create something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "together." I thought it would take me less than an hour, but I've been putting this table together all evening! I just need to put an outfit together for my interview tomorrow. Please put together an outline of your plan and have it on my desk by Friday.

2. verb To combine two or more people or things into a pair, group, mixture, etc. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "together." Just make sure you don't put those three together—they always cause trouble when they're in a group. When you put these two chemicals together, you get an explosive reaction.

3. verb To consider or contemplate multiple things in order to arrive at some conclusion or deduction. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "together." There were so many elements to the case that I just couldn't put them all together. When I put all the evidence together, it seemed pretty clear that the firm was lying to me.

4. verb To imagine that two people would make a suitable romantic couple. Usually used in negative, past-tense constructions. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "together." Dan and Billy are going out? Huh, I never would have put those two together.

5. adjective In a stable and successful condition. I can't believe she's had such a terrible addiction problem for so long—she always seemed so put together to me. I always felt inadequate next to my brother, who has always been exceptionally put together in his career and his home life.

6. adjective In good physical or mental health. I've been really paying attention to my diet, as well as getting enough sleep and exercise, and I feel a lot more put together recently as a result.

7. adjective Sophisticated and polished in appearance due to one's attentiveness to fashion and grooming. I can't go out in public wearing sweats with my hair in a messy bun! I have to be at least a little more put together than that. What to do you think of this blouse-jacket combo? Do you think I look put together enough for the job interview?

See also: put, together

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

put people or things together

to join or combine people or things. We will put Sam and Trudy together at the dinner table. Let's put all the crystal goblets together.

See also: people, put, thing, together

put something together

 

1. Lit. to assemble something. How long will it take to put dinner together? This model was put together incorrectly.

2. Fig. to consider some facts and arrive at a conclusion. I couldn't put everything together to figure out the answer in time. When I put together all the facts, I found the answer.

See also: put, together

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

put together

1. Build, assemble, create, as in We put together the new bookcase, or This writer can't put together a coherent sentence. [First half of 1500s]

2. Combine mentally, as in Once she put this and that together she knew exactly what had happened. [First half of 1600s] Also see put our heads together; put two and two together.

See also: put, together

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

put toˈgether

used when comparing or contrasting somebody/something with a group of other people or things to mean ‘combined’ or ‘in total’: Your department spent more last year than all the others put together.

See also: put, together

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

put together

v.

1. To construct or create something out of pieces or parts: The carpenter put together a new bookcase. The broker put a revised insurance package together.

2. To group together some set of people or things: Let's put the children together in the guest room.

3. To understand something by considering many pieces of information or ideas: The police reviewed the clues presented by the evidence, but couldn't put them together. The jury tried to put together all of the facts.

See also: put, together

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.