put across

verb

1. (adverb) to communicate in a comprehensible way

   he couldn't put things across very well

2. informal,  to get (someone) to accept or believe a claim, excuse, etc, by deception

   they put one across their teacher

Idioms and Phrases

Cause to be understood or accepted, as in She put her views across very well . [c. 1920]

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

A large sign had been put across the main track running through the camp reading "Cambodia needs peace – final".

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“And that comes from her dark and very sad past and how long she has been thinking about killing Joel. That’s the energy I was hoping to put across.”

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Six decades later, though, “Dance to the Music” still communicates a sense of boundless joy — even as it puts across a flicker of doubt about going so nice-and-smiley.

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"I love fusion and I think it's something that needs to be put across, that all music basically is one music."

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This enabled us to film pictures which sufficiently put across the savagery of the storm, without taking a major safety risk.

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Related Words

• analyze 
• clarify 
• define 
• demonstrate 
• describe 
• disclose 
• expound 
• illustrate 
• interpret 
• justify 
• point out 
• read 
• resolve 
• reveal 
• solve 
• spell out 
• tell