put aside — save for a purpose
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to save something, especially money or time, so you can use it later for a particular reason.
Say it like a native
Textbook I allocate a portion of my salary for future expenditure each month.
Native I put a bit aside each month.
'Put aside' is the everyday phrase for saving; the formal version is accountant-speak.
Pattern: put aside + noun
In use
- I try to put aside a little money each month for unexpected expenses.money
- In my opinion, it's important to put aside time every week for exercise, even if you have a busy schedule.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I put aside some money for the rainy day.
✓ I put some money aside for a rainy day.
The idiom is 'for a rainy day' (no 'the'); the object often goes in the middle.
Common collocations
put aside + money/time— some money, a bit each month, savings, time
Don't confuse it
'Put aside' focuses on saving for a purpose, while 'put away' usually means to tidy up or store something.