put-up

[ poot-uhp ]

/ ˈpʊtˌʌp /

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adjective Informal.

planned beforehand in a secret or crafty manner: a put-up job.

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Origin of put-up

First recorded in 1800–10; adj. use of verb phrase put up

Words nearby put-up

putty in someone's hands, putty knife, putty powder, puttyroot, Putumayo, put-up, put-up job, put-upon, put up or shut up, put up with, put wise

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use put-up in a sentence

To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
“I think for trans men who are dating every time they hook up they have another coming out,” Sandler said.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We won't find out this season, though it comes up occasionally.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Kickstarter is one start-up platform that seems to have realized the danger.
Design Your Own Dinosaur: The Era of Custom DNA|Justin Jones|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What need to look to right or left when you are swallowing up free mile after mile of dizzying road?
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Most of the men leaped up, caught hold of spears or knives, and rushed out.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
He was voluble in his declarations that they would “put the screws” to Ollie on the charge of perjury.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
Some weeks after, the creditor chanced to be in Boston, and in walking up Tremont street, encountered his enterprising friend.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our little army on the march.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for put-up

put up

verb (adverb, mainly tr)

to build; erectto put up a statue

to accommodate or be accommodated atcan you put me up for tonight?

to increase (prices)

to submit or present (a plan, case, etc)

to offerto put a house up for sale

to provide or supply; giveto put up a good fight

to provide (money) for; invest inthey put up five thousand for the new project

to preserve or can (jam, etc)

to pile up (long hair) on the head in any of several styles

(also intr) to nominate or be nominated as a candidate, esp for a political or society posthe put his wife up as secretary; he put up for president

archaic to return (a weapon) to its holder, as a sword to its sheathput up your pistol!

put up to

to inform or instruct (a person) about (tasks, duties, etc)
to urge or goad (a person) on to; incite to

put up with informal to endure; tolerate

adjective put-up

dishonestly or craftily prearranged or conceived (esp in the phrase put-up job)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with put-up

put up

Erect, build; also, lift to a higher position. For example, They put up three new houses on our street, or She looks more grownup when she puts up her hair in a bun. [c. 1600]

Preserve, can, as in She put up countless jars of jam. [Early 1800s]

Nominate, as in Tom put up Peter for president. [Late 1500s]

Provide funds, especially in advance, as in They put up nearly a million for the new museum.

put someone up. Provide lodgings for, as in We can put you up for the night. [Mid-1700s]

Startle game from cover, as in The hunter put up three grouse. [Late 1400s]

Offer for sale, as in They had to put up their last antiques. [Early 1700s]

Make a display or appearance of, as in They were actually broke but put up a good front. [First half of 1800s]

Do well in a contest, as in They put up a good fight. [Late 1800s]

Stake money for a bet, as in Each player put up ten dollars. [Mid-1800s]