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put away
/pʊt əˈweɪ/◆phrasal verb
to store or save something
She put away the groceries after shopping.
She stored the groceries in the kitchen after shopping.
informal
to store something in a safe or organized place
He put away his toys after playing.
He stored his toys neatly after playing.
Commonly used for organizing or storing items.
Finance
informal
to save money for future use
She puts away $100 every month for her vacation.
She saves $100 every month for her vacation.
Often used in financial contexts to describe saving money.
informal
to defeat someone decisively in a competition
The team put away the opponents in the final match.
The team defeated the opponents decisively in the final match.
Used in sports to describe a clear and strong victory.
Collocations
put away moneyto save moneyput away toysto store toys neatly
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'put away' changes based on the context. Pay attention to whether it's about storing, saving, or defeating.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
Use 'put away' literally for storing items and figuratively for saving money or winning decisively.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'putten' (to place) and 'away' (to a different place).
Usage Notes
The phrase can be used literally or figuratively, depending on the context. In finance, it often means saving money, while in sports, it means winning decisively.
Word Breakdown
put
to place or position
verbaway
to a different place or state
adverbEnglish Dictionary