put someone down

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to criticize, humiliate, or belittle someone, especially in front of other people. It is used to describe behavior that damages someone's self-esteem or makes them feel inferior. The tone is negative, describing hurtful or toxic behavior in relationships.

Examples

• He always tries to put her down in front of his friends.

  He always tries to put her down in front of his friends.

• A good partner should support you, not put you down.

  A good partner should support you, not put you down.

• She felt small because her boss kept putting her down during the meeting.

  She felt small because her boss kept putting her down during the meeting.

• I hate the way they put each other down instead of solving their issues.

  I hate the way they put each other down instead of solving their issues.

• Don't let anyone put you down just because you made a mistake.

  Don't let anyone put you down just because you made a mistake.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He put down me in public.

  ✓ He put me down in public.

  When the object of 'put down' is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, us, them), it must go between 'put' and 'down'.

• ✗ She always puts down to her friends.

  ✓ She always puts her friends down.

  The phrasal verb 'put down' does not require the preposition 'to' when expressing criticism of someone.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Why do you always have to ___ in front of everyone?

  💡 Use the phrasal verb with the pronoun 'me'.

  Show answer

  put me down

• A true friend will never ___.

  💡 Use the phrasal verb with the pronoun 'you'.

  Show answer

  put you down