Meaning trap

put down

to place something on a surface

To move something you are holding and place it onto a table, floor, or another surface.

phrasal verbB1core

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

to place something on a surface

To move something you are holding and place it onto a table, floor, or another surface.

put down (to criticize or insult someone)

Another meaning of 'put down' is 'to criticize or insult someone'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

She put down her bag on the chair and sat next to me.daily life
When I get home from work, I usually put down my keys on the table by the door so I don't lose them.IELTS speaking

Pattern: put down + noun

WrongPut down it on the table.

RightPut it down on the table.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'put it down'.

Patternput down + noun

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Kindly place the object upon the table.

Natural Just put it down on the table.

'Put down' is the everyday verb; 'place upon' is formal/stiff.

Words that usually travel with it.

Not the same as 'put away', which means to return something to its usual place.

put down (to criticize or insult someone) — Another meaning of 'put down' is 'to criticize or insult someone'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.