What Does “Put sth aside” Mean?
“Put sth aside” means to save or keep something for later use, or to ignore something temporarily.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “put sth aside” is commonly used in everyday English. It has two main meanings: saving something for future use, like money or time, and ignoring feelings or problems temporarily. Understanding the “put sth aside” meaning helps learners use it naturally in conversations and writing. This phrase is useful in many contexts, from financial advice to emotional discussions. By learning how to use “put sth aside,” you can express ideas about saving, postponing, or setting things apart clearly and effectively.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: put something aside
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: Save for later or ignore temporarily
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Put sth aside” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between “put” and “aside” or after “aside.”
- Put + object + aside (e.g., put money aside)
- Put aside + object (e.g., put aside money)
Both forms are correct and commonly used.
How to Use Put sth aside?
You use “put sth aside” when talking about saving or setting something apart for future use. For example, you might say, “I put some money aside every month.” It also works when you want to temporarily ignore feelings or problems, like “She put her worries aside to focus on work.”
This phrasal verb fits well in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for daily conversations, writing, and business English.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “put sth aside”:
- I try to put a little money aside each week for emergencies.
- During the meeting, he put his personal feelings aside to listen carefully.
- She put aside her doubts and accepted the challenge.
- We need to put some time aside to prepare for the exam.
- Put aside your phone and pay attention to the lecture.
These show how “put sth aside” can mean saving or ignoring depending on context.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse word order or use incorrect prepositions. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: Put aside money some.
- Correct: Put some money aside.
- Incorrect: Put aside for money later.
- Correct: Put money aside for later.
Remember to place the object correctly and use “aside” after the verb or after the object.
Differences / Synonyms
“Put sth aside” is similar to “save up” and “set aside,” but there are subtle differences.
- Save up: Usually refers to collecting money over time.
- Set aside: More formal and often used in legal or official contexts.
- Put aside: Can mean both saving and temporarily ignoring, making it more flexible.
Choose based on the tone and meaning you want to express.
Common Collocations
Some common objects that go with “put aside” include:
- Money: Save money for emergencies.
- Time: Reserve time for important tasks.
- Feelings: Ignore feelings to stay focused.
- Problems: Temporarily ignore problems to think clearly.
- Doubts: Set doubts aside to try new things.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of put sth aside:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “put sth aside”:
Anna: I want to travel next year, but I need to save money first.
Ben: Why don’t you put some money aside each month? It will add up quickly.
Anna: That’s a good idea. I’ll start putting money aside from now.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “put sth aside”:
- I always __________ a little money for emergencies.
- She decided to __________ her worries and focus on the project.
- We need to __________ some time for the meeting tomorrow.
- Can you __________ your phone during class?
FAQ
- What does “put sth aside” mean? It means to save something for later or to ignore something temporarily.
- Is “put sth aside” formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal situations.
- Can I say “put aside money” and “put money aside”? Yes, both are correct and commonly used.
- What is the difference between “put aside” and “save up”? “Save up” usually means collecting money over time, while “put aside” can mean saving or ignoring temporarily.
- Can I use “put aside” with feelings? Yes, it means to ignore feelings temporarily.
