put up

put up idiom
  1. Erect, build; also, lift to a higher position. For example, They put up three new houses on our street, or She looks more grownup when she puts up her hair in a bun. [c. 1600]
  2. Preserve, can, as in She put up countless jars of jam. [Early 1800s]
  3. Nominate, as in Tom put up Peter for president. [Late 1500s]
  4. Provide funds, especially in advance, as in They put up nearly a million for the new museum.
  5. put someone up. Provide lodgings for, as in We can put you up for the night. [Mid-1700s]
  6. Startle game from cover, as in The hunter put up three grouse. [Late 1400s]
  7. Offer for sale, as in They had to put up their last antiques. [Early 1700s]
  8. Make a display or appearance of, as in They were actually broke but put up a good front. [First half of 1800s]
  9. Do well in a contest, as in They put up a good fight. [Late 1800s]
  10. Stake money for a bet, as in Each player put up ten dollars. [Mid-1800s]

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.

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