put across

explain an idea or message so people understand it clearly

B2

What does "put sth across" mean?

To put something across means to communicate an idea, message, or point in a way that is clear and easy for others to understand. The focus is on the skill and manner of delivery — how well someone explains something — rather than on whether the audience actually understood it. You might use this phrasal verb to describe a good teacher who explains difficult concepts in simple terms, a politician who presents their views persuasively, or a presenter who communicates complex data clearly. It often appears with adverbs like 'clearly', 'effectively', or 'convincingly', which describe the quality of the communication. The phrase is at home in professional and educational settings but is natural in everyday conversation too.

Examples

How to use it

put + object + across

The most common structure with short noun objects, where the object is placed between the verb and the particle.

She managed to put her argument across without sounding confrontational.

put + pronoun + across

Pronouns must always go between the verb and the particle — this placement is not optional.

The concept is difficult, but a good teacher can put it across in a way that makes sense.

put across + longer noun phrase

When the object is a long or complex noun phrase, it is more natural to keep the verb and particle together.

The training video was designed to put across the importance of workplace safety to new employees.

subject + be + put across + (adverb/by phrase)

The passive form is natural, especially when the focus is on the message rather than who delivered it.

The key benefits of the proposal were put across very effectively during the presentation.

struggle / ability + to put across + object

This phrasal verb commonly appears after nouns like 'ability' or verbs like 'struggle', 'manage', and 'fail', highlighting effort or skill in communicating.

His ability to put complex ideas across in plain English made him a popular lecturer.

Common Collocations

put a message acrossput your point acrossput ideas acrossput it across clearlyput across the benefitsput an argument across

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When using a pronoun as the object, it must always go between 'put' and 'across'. Placing it after the particle is ungrammatical in English.

✗ She put across it very clearly.
✓ She put it across very clearly.
Confusing 'put across' with 'get across'

'Put across' focuses on the skill or manner of communicating — how well a message is delivered. 'Get across' emphasises that the audience actually understood the message. They are close in meaning but not always interchangeable.

✗ I finally put my point across after explaining it three times. (if you mean the audience finally understood)
✓ I finally got my point across after explaining it three times.
Confusing 'put across' with 'put forward'

'Put forward' means to suggest or introduce an idea for consideration, while 'put across' means to explain or communicate it clearly. You can put an idea forward (propose it) and then put it across well (explain it effectively).

✗ She put across a new proposal at the meeting. (if you mean she introduced it for discussion)
✓ She put forward a new proposal at the meeting.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English, but is especially common in professional or academic contexts about communication skills. 'Get across' is very similar and often interchangeable, but 'put across' focuses more on how well someone delivers a message.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of things can you 'put across'? Can it be anything?

The object is almost always something abstract that can be communicated — a message, idea, point, argument, concept, proposal, or set of views. You would not typically use 'put across' with a concrete physical object. Phrases like 'put a message across', 'put your point across', and 'put the benefits across' are all very natural.

Can 'put across' be used without an object?

No — 'put across' always needs a direct object. It is a transitive phrasal verb, so you must say what is being communicated. If you want to describe how someone is perceived without mentioning a specific message, 'come across' is the verb you need, as in 'She comes across as very confident.'

Can I use 'put across' in the passive?

Yes, the passive is natural and fairly common with this phrasal verb, especially in professional or written contexts. It works well when you want to focus on the message rather than who delivered it, for example: 'The policy changes were put across clearly in the briefing.'

Does 'put across' always mean communicating something? I've seen it used differently.

In rare, more literal uses, 'put across' can mean to physically take someone or something to the other side of a body of water — for example, a ferry putting passengers across a river. However, this sense is uncommon, and in virtually all everyday contexts, 'put across' means to communicate an idea or message clearly.

Which adverbs go well with 'put across'?

Adverbs of manner are very commonly used with this phrasal verb and usually come after the particle. 'Clearly', 'effectively', 'well', and 'convincingly' are the most frequent choices — for example, 'She put her argument across convincingly' or 'The information was put across very clearly.'

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