put-on

[ noun poot-on, -awn; adjective poot-on, -awn ]

noun

, Informal.

1. an act or instance of putting someone on.
2. a prank or pretense, especially one perpetrated or assumed in mock seriousness; hoax; spoof.
3. affected manner or behavior; pretentiousness.

adjective

1. assumed, feigned, pretended, or disguised:

   a put-on manner that didn't fool anyone.

put on

verb

1. to clothe oneself in

   to put on a coat

2. usually passive to adopt (an attitude or feeling) insincerely

   his misery was just put on

3. to present or stage (a play, show, etc)
4. to increase or add

   the batsman put on fifty runs before lunch

   she put on weight

5. to cause (an electrical device) to function
6. also preposition to wager (money) on a horse race, game, etc

   he put ten pounds on the favourite

7. also preposition to impose as a burden or levy

   to put a tax on cars

8. cricket to cause (a bowler) to bowl
9. put someone on
   1. to connect (a person) by telephone
   2. to mock or tease

noun

1. a hoax or piece of mockery
2. an affected manner or mode of behaviour

Word History and Origins

Origin of put-on¹

1855–60; adj., noun use of verb phrase put ( someone ) on

Example Sentences

An older customer refused to put on their heating or use hot water and cried down the line to the operator.

From BBC

The man behind the infamous Wonka experience in Glasgow has been put on the sex offenders register after bombarding a woman with explicit pictures.

From BBC

No longer mere debates, these ideals have been dragged into the public square, put on trial, accused of treachery and of fracturing the nation's unity.

From Salon

Billy Butlin, who founded the company, created the Redcoat role after noticing holidaymakers were sitting around and not engaging with one another, or the activities he had put on.

From BBC

Aside from the scheduled sailings, the crew would voluntarily give up their time to put on several special "booze cruises" to raise money for island charities.

From BBC