Idiom: “to put out”
Meaning: To stop
from burning; to publish;
to inconvenience
Example #1:
Jenny: Hey, Johnny!
No smoking is allowed in this building. You need to put out your cigarette
now!
Johnny: It’s OK.
No one will know. I’ll just blow the smoke out the window.
Jenny: Are you
serious? The fire alarm might even go off any minute!
Johnny: Oh, all
right. I’ll put it out.
Example #2:
Sarah: I’m so
excited! My sister just put out a new crime novel!
Jacob: Wow! That’s
great. What’s her name?
Sarah: Tammy J.
Janison.
Jacob: Hmmm, I
haven’t heard of her. Has she put out any other novels?
Sarah: Yes, she
has already put out two novels in the past four years. I can’t wait to read her
new one.
Example #3:
Sam: Megan, thank
you so much for letting me and my family stay at your house last weekend. When
the electricity went out at my house, I really didn’t know what to do.
Megan: No
problem.
Sam: Well, I hope
I didn’t put you out too much. My three-year old is really active and is always
playing!
Megan: Well, since
we don’t have any kids, it was fun having your family around. You didn’t put us
out at all.
Meaning: In example
#1 “to
put out” means to stop something from burning. In this example, Johnny
needs to put out his cigarette. In example #2, “to put out” means to
publish a book. In this example, Sarah’s sister has put out a crime novel. In
example #3, “to put out” means to inconvenience someone or trouble them in
some way. In this example, Sam’s family stayed with Megan over the weekend
because Sam’s electricity went out. Sam has a small child and he is worried
that he put Megan out or inconvenienced her. This
idiom can be found in Speaking Horizons, which is used in level 6
Listening/Speaking class. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com.
