Is "put sb away" formal or informal?

It can be both, depending on the context.

Can I use "put sb away" with objects?

Usually no, except when talking about food.

What is the difference between "put sb away" and "lock up"?

"Put sb away" often means sentencing someone to prison, while "lock up" means to imprison temporarily or informally.

Is "put sb away" separable?

Yes, you can put the object between "put" and "away" or after "away."

Put sb away Meaning and How to Use with Examples

What Does “Put sb away” Mean?

“Put sb away” is a phrasal verb that means to send someone to prison or to defeat someone decisively. It can also mean to eat a lot of food quickly in informal contexts.

Introduction

The phrase Put sb away has several meanings depending on the context. Most commonly, it means to imprison someone, especially criminals or offenders. However, it can also refer to defeating an opponent clearly, often used in sports or competitions. In casual speech, it sometimes means to eat a large amount of food quickly. Understanding the Put sb away meaning helps learners use it correctly in different situations and avoid confusion.

Quick Info Box

Phrasal verb: Put sb away (put somebody away)
Type: Transitive
Level: B2
Short meaning: To imprison someone, defeat someone, or eat a lot quickly

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Put sb away” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb = somebody) between “put” and “away” or after “away.”

Put someone away
Put away someone

Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.

How to Use Put sb away?

You use “put sb away” mostly in formal or informal contexts to talk about sending someone to jail or defeating someone. In informal situations, it can also describe eating a lot of food quickly. The tone and meaning depend on the situation, so understanding the context is important.

Examples

Here are some examples to show how to use “Put sb away in a sentence”:

The police finally put the criminal away for 10 years.
Our team put their rivals away in the second half of the game.
He can really put away a lot of food at dinner!
The judge decided to put him away after the trial.
She was determined to put away her opponent in the boxing match.

Common Mistakes

People often confuse “put sb away” with similar phrases or misuse it in the wrong context. Here are some examples:

Incorrect: I put away my brother last night. (If meant to imprison or defeat)
Correct: The police put away my brother last night.
Incorrect: She put away the food slowly. (If meant to eat a lot quickly)
Correct: She can really put away the food quickly.

Differences / Synonyms

“Put sb away” can be confused with similar phrasal verbs like “lock up,” “send away,” or “throw away.” However, they have different meanings:

Lock up: To imprison someone but more informal.
Send away: To make someone leave or go somewhere else, not necessarily prison.
Throw away: To discard something, not used with people.

“Put sb away” specifically can mean imprisoning or defeating someone, not just making them leave.

Common Collocations

When using “put sb away,” certain words often appear with it. These collocations help clarify meaning:

Put a criminal away: To imprison a criminal.
Put an opponent away: To defeat someone clearly.
Put food away: To eat a lot quickly.
Put someone away for years: To sentence someone to long imprisonment.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of put sb away:

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “put sb away”:

John: Did you hear about the thief?

Anna: Yes, the police finally put him away for five years.

John: Good! He deserved it.

Anna: Absolutely. And did you see the game yesterday?

John: Yeah, our team really put their opponents away in the last quarter!

Practice

Try to complete the sentence with the correct form of “put sb away”:

The judge decided to _______ the dangerous criminal for 15 years.
In the match, she quickly _______ her opponent.
He can really _______ a lot of food at once.

Answers: put away, put away, put away

FAQ

Q: What does “put sb away” mean?
A: It means to imprison someone, defeat someone, or eat a lot quickly.
Q: Is “put sb away” formal or informal?
A: It can be both, depending on the context.
Q: Can I use “put sb away” with objects?
A: Usually no, except when talking about food.
Q: What is the difference between “put sb away” and “lock up”?
A: “Put sb away” often means sentencing someone to prison, while “lock up” means to imprison temporarily or informally.
Q: Is “put sb away” separable?
A: Yes, you can put the object between “put” and “away” or after “away.”