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

Related Phrases

put upphrasal verb
to display or hang something
put downphrasal verb
to place something on a surface

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
verb
+
away
to a different place or state
adverb
English Dictionary