# put it

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/put-it
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to express or say something in a specific way.

For teachers: to articulate or formulate a thought, opinion, or fact using a particular choice of words; typically used with an adverbial of manner.

## Examples

- To put it simply, we need more money.
- As the manager put it during the meeting, the company is facing a very difficult year.
- The philosopher's latest essay is, to put it bluntly, a complete rejection of everything he argued for in his earlier career.

## Pitfalls

- Not "To put simply, the plan failed." but "To put it simply, the plan failed." — the pronoun 'it' is a mandatory part of this expression and cannot be omitted.

## Usage notes

- almost always followed by an adverb (like 'simply', 'mildly', or 'bluntly') to describe the style of speaking.
- Teaching tip: this is a fixed idiomatic use of 'put' where 'it' is a dummy object representing the statement being made; it is a useful tool for signposting a summary or a change in tone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.