■ verb ( ~s , ~ting ; past and past participle ~ )
1》 move to or place in a particular position.
2》 bring into a particular state or condition: they tried to ~ me at ease.
↘express in a particular way: to ~ it bluntly, he was not really divorced.
3》 ( ~ something on/on to ) cause to carry or be subject to something: commentators ~ the blame on Congress.
↘assign a particular value, figure, or limit to.
4》 (of a ship) proceed in a particular direction: the boat ~ out to sea.
5》 throw (a shot or weight) as an athletic sport.
■ noun a throw of the shot or weight.
Phrases
~ someone's eyes out blind someone in a violent way.
~ one's hands together applaud.
~ one's hands up raise one's hands in surrender.
~ one over on informal deceive (someone) into accepting something false.
~ up or shut up informal justify oneself or remain silent.
Phrasal verbs
~ about Nautical (of a ship) turn on the opposite tack.
~ someone about chiefly Scottish & N. English upset or trouble someone.
~ something about Brit. spread information or rumours.
~ something aside (or by ) save money for future use.
~ someone away informal confine someone in a prison or psychiatric hospital.
~ something away
1》 save money for future use.
2》 informal consume food or drink in large quantities.
~ someone down informal criticize someone.
~ something down
1》 suppress a rebellion or riot by force.
2》 kill an animal because it is sick, injured, or old.
3》 pay a specified sum as a deposit.
4》 preserve or store food or wine for future use.
~ something down to attribute something to.
~ someone off
1》 cancel or postpone an appointment with someone.
2》 cause someone to feel dislike or lose enthusiasm.
3》 distract someone.
~ something off postpone something.
~ someone on informal try to make someone believe something that is untrue.
~ something on
1》 place a garment on part of one's body.
2》 present or provide a play, service, etc.
3》 become heavier by a specified amount.
4》 assume a particular expression, accent, etc.
~ someone on to draw someone's attention to.
~ out N. Amer. informal agree to have sex with someone.
~ someone out inconvenience, upset, or annoy someone.
~ something out
1》 dislocate a joint.
2》 (of an engine or motor) produce a particular amount of power.
~ something over N. Amer. postpone something.
~ someone through
1》 subject someone to a gruelling or unpleasant experience.
2》 connect someone by telephone to another person or place.
3》 pay for one's child to attend school or college.
~ something to
1》 submit something to (someone) for consideration.
↘( ~ it to ) make a statement or allegation to (someone) and challenge them to deny it.
2》 couple an animal with (another of the opposite sex) for breeding.
~ someone up
1》 accommodate someone temporarily.
2》 propose someone for election or adoption.
~ something up
1》 present something for discussion or consideration.
2》 publish banns.
3》 provide money as backing for an enterprise.
4》 offer something for sale or auction.
5》 offer a specified degree of resistance or skill in a fight or contest.
6》 cause game to rise from cover.
7》 archaic return a sword to its sheath.
be ~ upon informal be taken advantage of.
~ someone up to informal encourage someone to do (something wrong or unwise).
~ up with tolerate; endure.
Origin
OE, of unknown origin; cf. dialect pote 'to push, thrust' (an early sense of ~ ).