Complete the following sentences.

1. He suspected that his business partner was putting something ……………………………. him, but he had nothing to prove it.

a) over

b) on

c) over on

2. The hostess really put herself ……………………………… to see that everyone was comfortable.

a) over

b) out

c) down

3. It was obviously a lie but he managed to put it ………………………………………

a) across

b) away

c) off

4. I am leaving you and you will not hear anything more from me. ……………………………………….

a) Now put that in your pipe and smoke it

b) Now put that in your coffee and drink it

c) Now put that in your wine and drink it.

5. The dance teacher put her students ………………………………….. before their first public performance.

a) across

b) on

c) through

Answers

1. He suspected that his business partner was putting something over on him, but he had nothing to prove it.

2. The hostess really put herself out to see that everyone was comfortable.

3. It was obviously a lie but he managed to put it across.

4. I am leaving you and you will not hear anything more from me. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. The dance teacher put her students through before their first public performance.

Explanations

To put something over on somebody is to deceive him or her.

To put oneself out is to take pains to do something.

To put something across is to make people accept or believe it.

The expression ‘put that in your pipe and smoke it’ is an impolite way of telling someone that they must accept what you have just said. It doesn’t really matter whether they like it or not.

To put someone through their paces is to test their skills.