put a spin on

Idioms

Give a certain meaning or interpretation to. Spin is usually modified by an adjective in this expression, as in Robert was adept at putting positive spin on weak financial reports, or This chef has put a new spin on seafood dishes. Also see spin doctor. [1980s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Accepting one of his many awards, Johnson’s Trump put a spin on Sally Field’s iconic Oscar acceptance speech.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2026

“You can put a spin on anything,” he said.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 29, 2019

Beloved by animation buffs, the cartoons put a spin on the usual Bugs Bunny/Woody Woodpecker-style anthropomorphic mischief, by largely eschewing dialogue and putting the gangly title character in situations more whimsically bizarre than life-or-death.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2018

“If you have got money, you can put a spin on things just having the spending power to do so,” he added.

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2014

He put a spin on We're, making sure that George knew he was including himself with the Island's management.

From Return to Pleasure Island by Doctorow, Cory

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023