put across
Britishverb
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(adverb) to communicate in a comprehensible way
he couldn't put things across very well
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informal to get (someone) to accept or believe a claim, excuse, etc, by deception
they put one across their teacher
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Cause to be understood or accepted, as in She put her views across very well . [c. 1920]
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Attain or carry through by deceit, as in You can't put anything across this teacher . [c. 1920] Also see put over , def. 3.
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.
Barrot said French diplomatic missions were trying to put across the French case "so that we have our own narratives to disseminate, rather than being subjected to those of others."
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
That could be music to the ears of the Belgian, who will be provided with much-needed extra time on the training pitch with his new players to put across fresh ideas.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
“We’re going to continue to see warehouses being put across the street from homes and schools, because it will be OK with the law.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2024
As the noble prince Tamino, Ben Bliss added a little schmaltz to his elegant tenor to put across the romance of his first aria for the young crowd.
From New York Times ● Dec. 18, 2022
Kennedy, a folklorist at heart, apparently wanted to put across the most dramatic story possible, and therefore included not only his own anti-Klan activities but those of another man, code-named John Brown.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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