put on headphones

Meaning

This phrase means to place headphones over or inside your ears to listen to music, a podcast, or other audio privately. It is commonly used when someone wants to block out background noise or focus on their personal devices.

Examples

• I usually put on headphones as soon as I get on the bus to block out the noise.

  I usually put on headphones as soon as I get on the bus to block out the noise.

• Could you put on headphones if you're going to watch that video?

  Could you put on headphones if you're going to watch that video?

• He put on his headphones and immediately started focusing on his work.

  He put on his headphones and immediately started focusing on his work.

• She put on her headphones to listen to her favorite new album.

  She put on her headphones to listen to her favorite new album.

• Don't forget to put on your headphones before the Zoom call starts.

  Don't forget to put on your headphones before the Zoom call starts.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to wear on my headphones.

  ✓ I need to put on my headphones.

  'Wear' describes the state of having them on your head, while 'put on' is the action of placing them there.

• ✗ He put his headphones.

  ✓ He put on his headphones.

  Without the preposition 'on', the phrasal verb is incomplete and means placing the physical object somewhere else, not on your head.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It's too noisy in here, so I'm going to ___ and listen to some music.

  💡 Action of placing audio gear on your ears.

  Show answer

  put on headphones

• Please ___ before you start playing your video game.

  💡 Use a possessive pronoun with the action.

  Show answer

  put on your headphones