What Does “Put sb on” Mean?
“Put sb on” is a phrasal verb that means to trick or joke with someone, or to assign someone a task or role. It depends on the context.
Introduction
The phrase “Put sb on” has more than one meaning in English. Sometimes, it means to play a joke on someone, making them believe something that is not true. Other times, it means to assign or connect someone to a task, a phone call, or a role. Understanding the “Put sb on meaning” helps you use it correctly in daily conversations. This phrasal verb is common in informal speech and can make your English sound more natural.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Put sb on (put somebody on)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1–B2
- Short meaning: To trick someone OR to assign/connect someone to something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Put sb on” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between “put” and “on.”
- Put someone on
- Put him/her on
Examples of patterns:
- Put + somebody + on
- Put + somebody + on + something (like a phone call)
How to Use Put sb on?
Use “Put sb on” when you want to say you are joking with someone or tricking them. For example, “Are you putting me on?” means “Are you joking with me?”
Alternatively, use it to mean assigning someone to a task or connecting them, especially in phone conversations. For example, “Can you put me on to the manager?” means “Can you connect me to the manager?”
Examples
Imagine your friend tells you a surprising story, and you want to check if they are joking.
- “You won the lottery? Are you putting me on?”
- “He put me on to the new project at work.”
- “Please put me on to the customer service department.”
- “She said she saw a UFO, but I think she was putting me on.”
- “The teacher put me on as the class leader.”
These examples show different ways to use “Put sb on” in a sentence.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse “Put sb on” with other phrasal verbs or use it incorrectly in formal situations.
- Incorrect: Can you put on me to the manager?
- Correct: Can you put me on to the manager?
- Incorrect: I put him on a joke yesterday.
- Correct: I put him on (meaning I joked with him).
Remember, the object (someone) always comes between “put” and “on.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Put sb on” can be similar to “fool someone” or “joke with someone” when it means to trick. However, “put sb on” is less harsh and more playful.
Compared to “connect someone” or “transfer someone” on the phone, “put sb on” is more informal.
Other phrasal verbs:
- Play a joke on – similar to tricking someone.
- Pass someone on – more formal for transferring calls.
Common Collocations
You often hear “Put sb on” with these words:
- Put someone on the phone – connect a call
- Put someone on a task – assign a job
- Put someone on a joke – trick or tease
- Put someone on the spot – force to answer
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of put sb on:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “Put sb on”:
Anna: My brother said he met a celebrity yesterday.
Ben: Are you sure? Is he putting you on?
Anna: I asked him, and he said no, it really happened!
Ben: Wow, that’s cool!
Practice
Try to fill in the blanks with the correct form of “put sb on”:
- He said he got a new car, but I think he’s ______ me ______.
- Can you ______ me ______ to the manager, please?
- The teacher ______ me ______ to lead the group project.
FAQ
- What does “put sb on” mean? It means to joke or trick someone, or to assign or connect someone to something.
- Is “put sb on” formal or informal? It is mostly informal, used in casual conversations.
- Can “put sb on” be used in phone calls? Yes, it means to connect someone to another person on the phone.
- How do I use “put sb on” in a sentence? You can say, “Are you putting me on?” to ask if someone is joking with you.
- Is “put sb on” separable? Yes, the object (sb) goes between “put” and “on.”
