Commonly confused
Put up vs Put down
“Put up” and “Put down” look alike but pull in different directions. Here is the quick way to tell them apart — with examples, the mistake to avoid, and a check.
Which one do you mean?
Up means raise or tolerate; down means lower or criticise. Put up a poster (or put up with noise); put down a bag (or put someone down).
Put up
Raise something, provide accommodation, or — as put up with — tolerate.
Put down
Set something down, pay a deposit, or criticise someone.
put up
- 1
Raise or lift
- 2
Provide accommodation
- 3
Tolerate (put up with)
Correct use
“Put your hands up.”
Raise your hands into the air.
put down
- 1
Place on a surface
- 2
Insult or belittle someone
- 3
Euthanize an animal
Correct use
“Put the box down on the table.”
Set the box down on top of the table.
Common mistake
I can't put down with his attitude.
I can't put up with his attitude.
To tolerate something, use put up with.
Test yourself
“Put your hands up.” What does it mean?
Follow the pattern
Continue through the matching verb family and particle guides.
Sink In — iOS & Android
Stop mixing them up
Sink In turns confusable pairs like this into quick contrast drills, so the right particle becomes automatic instead of a guess.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
