put-down

or put·down

[ poot-doun ]

noun

1. a landing of an aircraft.
2. Informal.
   1. a disparaging, belittling, or snubbing remark.
   2. a remark or act intended to humiliate or embarrass someone.

put down

verb

1. to make a written record of
2. to repress

   to put down a rebellion

3. to consider; account

   they put him down for an ignoramus

4. to attribute

   I put the mistake down to his inexperience

5. to put to death, because of old age or illness

   the vet put the cat down

6. to table on the agenda

   the MPs put down a motion on the increase in crime

7. to put (a baby) to bed
8. to dismiss, reject, or humiliate

noun

1. a cruelly crushing remark

Word History and Origins

Origin of put-down¹

First recorded in 1960–65; noun use of verb phrase put down

Example Sentences

Turn off the TV, put down your phone, and log off the computer.

From The Daily Beast

Diana Showman, 19, had come out of her house, ignored demands to put down the weapon, and was shot once.

From The Daily Beast

“The point of the report is to put down a marker for future generations,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Both dogs became ferocious after the shootings, and had to be put down.

From The Daily Beast

Just weeks before the Somme, British soldiers put down the rising, leaving much of the city in ruins.

From The Daily Beast

A serious insurrection occurred at Dresden, in Saxony, but was in a few days put down.

From Project Gutenberg

The Professor put down his cards without a word, and left the room, going straight upstairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Now this morning I saw it put down for to-day Very pleasant, and I knew for sartin it would rain before night.

From Project Gutenberg

Another female person, whom I put down as Madam Stone, arose and disappeared through an open door at my approach.

From Project Gutenberg

I put down my haid, and was just kinda dragged up the aisle and onto the platform.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crush
• quash
• quell
• repress
• stamp out
• suppress