put away

3 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 put something back where it belongs B1
  2. 2 save money for the future B2
  3. 3 send someone to prison B2
1 put sth away

put something back where it belongs

B1

What does "put away" mean in this sense?

To put something away means to tidy it by returning it to the place where it belongs — a drawer, a cupboard, a shelf, or a bag. You use this phrasal verb when someone has been using something and it's now time to store it properly. It's one of the most common expressions for everyday tidying at home or at work. It often appears as a command or request, especially when asking children or colleagues to tidy up after themselves. The focus is on returning something to its proper, designated place rather than just moving it somewhere.

Examples

How to use it

put away + object

The most common structure, used when the object is a full noun phrase. The object follows the particle.

Can you put away the shopping when you get home?

put + object + away

When the object is a short noun phrase that is already known from context, it often goes between 'put' and 'away'.

She put the dishes away and wiped down the counter.

put + pronoun + away

When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between 'put' and 'away' — it can never come after 'away'.

Your books are still on the table — please put them away.

object + be + put away

The passive form is used in instructions or rules when you want to focus on the object rather than the person doing the action.

All tools should be put away at the end of the working day.

Common Collocations

toysclothesphonedishesshoppingtools

Common Mistakes

Pronoun after the particle

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'put' and 'away', not after 'away'. Putting the pronoun at the end is ungrammatical in English.

✗ I'll put away it after dinner.
✓ I'll put it away after dinner.
Confusing 'put away' with 'put back'

'Put back' means returning something to the exact spot you took it from, as if undoing a move. 'Put away' means storing something in its proper place as part of tidying up. The two are similar but not always interchangeable.

✗ I borrowed a book from the library shelf and put it away when I finished.
✓ I borrowed a book from the library shelf and put it back when I finished.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and equally common in British and American English. It appears most often in everyday spoken contexts — especially in homes and workplaces — and is very frequently used as a command or request.

2 put sth away

save money for the future

B2

Sense 2: What does "put sth away" mean?

To put money away means to save it gradually, setting it aside for use in the future. It suggests a regular habit rather than a single large deposit — the kind of steady, disciplined saving that ordinary people do each month or week. You might put money away for a specific goal, such as a holiday or a house deposit, or simply for general security, like a rainy day fund. The phrase carries a slightly informal, everyday feel, making it common in conversations about personal finances and budgeting. It focuses on the act of saving small amounts consistently over time, which is what sets it apart from more formal words like 'invest' or 'allocate'.

Examples

How to use it

put + amount + away

The most common structure, with a sum of money placed between 'put' and 'away'.

He puts £100 away every month for his retirement.

put + pronoun + away

When referring back to money already mentioned, a pronoun always goes between 'put' and 'away'.

I get paid on Friday and try to put some away before I spend anything.

put + amount + away + for + purpose

A purpose phrase introduced by 'for' explains what the money is being saved towards.

They've been putting a little away each week for a family holiday.

put away + (intransitive)

When the context already makes clear that money is involved, you can use 'put away' without stating an object.

I don't earn much, but I try to put away every month, even if it's just a small amount.

manage to / try to + put + amount + away

Common with verbs expressing effort or ability, reflecting the discipline required to save regularly.

She finally managed to put £500 away before the end of the year.

Common Collocations

put money awayput away each monthput it awayput away for a rainy dayput some awayput away for retirement

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or a quantifier like 'some', it must go between 'put' and 'away', never after 'away'.

✗ I put away it every month.
✓ I put it away every month.
Confusing with the tidying sense

The same phrasal verb is used to mean storing physical objects in their proper place. If your object is a physical item rather than a financial amount, listeners will understand a completely different meaning.

✗ I put away my savings last night. (ambiguous — sounds like you stored a physical object)
✓ I put some money away last night.
Using the passive

It sounds unnatural to make money the subject of a passive sentence with this phrasal verb. Stick to active constructions with a person as the subject.

✗ A percentage of his salary is put away each month.
✓ He puts a percentage of his salary away each month.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, but it is more casual than 'set aside' or 'save'. It strongly suggests a regular saving habit, so it often appears with time expressions like 'every month' or 'each week'.

3 put sb away

send someone to prison

B2

Sense 3: What does "put sb away" mean?

To put someone away means to send them to prison as the result of a criminal conviction. You will hear this expression in news reporting, crime dramas, and everyday conversation when people talk about criminals receiving a prison sentence. It is slightly less formal than expressions like 'sentenced to prison' or 'incarcerated', but it is not slang — it fits comfortably in both spoken English and written journalism. The passive form is by far the most common: rather than saying who sent the person to prison, speakers often focus on the criminal themselves (e.g. 'he was put away for eight years'). A phrase with 'for' indicating either a length of time or a specific crime almost always accompanies it.

Examples

How to use it

subject + be put away + for + time period / crime

This passive construction is the most natural and frequent form, focusing on the person convicted rather than on who sentenced them.

The fraudster was put away for twelve years after a lengthy trial.

put + pronoun + away

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'put' and 'away' — it cannot follow 'away'.

The prosecutor had enough evidence to put them away for life.

put + noun phrase + away

Short noun phrases can also sit between 'put' and 'away' in active sentences, typically with law enforcement or the justice system as the implied agent.

The detective spent three years trying to put the gang away.

enough evidence / what it takes + to put + object + away

This infinitive construction is very common when discussing whether there is sufficient proof to secure a conviction.

The investigators finally had enough to put the gang leader away.

put away + longer noun phrase

When the object is a longer or more complex noun phrase, it is more natural to place it after 'away' rather than between the two parts.

The courts managed to put away everyone who had been involved in the conspiracy.

Common Collocations

put away for yearsput away for lifeput away for robbery/fraud/murderfinally put awayenough evidence to put him away

Common Mistakes

Wrong pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun such as 'him', 'her', or 'them', it must go between 'put' and 'away'. Placing the pronoun after 'away' is not correct in English.

✗ The judge decided to put away him for armed robbery.
✓ The judge decided to put him away for armed robbery.
Confusing the prison sense with the storage sense

The same phrasal verb 'put away' also means to store something in its proper place. The key difference is the object: the prison sense always has a person as the object, while the storage sense always has a thing. Make sure the context — crime, courts, sentencing — is clear.

✗ The officer put away the evidence for ten years. (ambiguous — reads as storing, not imprisoning)
✓ The officer worked hard to put the suspect away for ten years.
Avoiding the passive when it is the most natural choice

Learners sometimes write only active sentences, but with this phrasal verb the passive is actually far more common and often sounds more natural. When the focus is on the convicted person rather than on who sentenced them, use the passive.

✗ They put away him for fraud, and he lost everything.
✓ He was put away for fraud, and he lost everything.

Usage

This expression is neutral in register and common in both spoken English and crime news reporting. It is slightly informal compared to 'sentenced to prison' and is very frequently used in the passive voice (e.g. 'he was put away for five years').

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'put away' always mean storing or tidying something?

No — 'put away' has a few different meanings depending on context. If the object is a person, it can mean to send someone to prison. In very informal contexts, it can also mean to eat or drink a large amount. However, when the object is an everyday item like clothes, dishes, or tools, it almost always means to store or tidy it in its proper place.

What kinds of things can you 'put away'?

You typically put away everyday objects that have a designated storage place — things like toys, clothes, dishes, tools, books, a phone, or groceries. The object is nearly always a physical item that belongs somewhere specific, such as a drawer, cupboard, or shelf.

Is 'put away' used in British English, American English, or both?

'Put away' is equally common in both British and American English. It's a neutral, everyday expression used in both countries in the same way.

Do I always need an object with 'put away'?

Yes — for this meaning, you always need to say what is being put away. You can't use 'put away' on its own without an object. For example, you'd say 'Please put your things away', not just 'Please put away'.

Does 'put away' always mean saving money? It seems to have other meanings.

No, it has other meanings depending on context. This sense is specifically about saving money for the future. The key clue is the object — if you're talking about a financial amount, it means saving. A separate section on this page covers the other senses.

Is 'put away' the same as 'put aside' when talking about saving money?

They are very close in meaning and often interchangeable. 'Put aside' tends to suggest saving for a specific named purpose, while 'put away' has a slightly more general, habitual feel — the kind of saving you do regularly without necessarily having one goal in mind.

Can I use 'put away' for a one-off large investment, like buying stocks?

It's possible, but it sounds a little unnatural. 'Put away' works best with modest, regular amounts — the kind of steady saving that happens weekly or monthly. For large or formal financial decisions, words like 'invest' or 'set aside' fit better.

Is 'put away' used more in British or American English?

It's used in both, but it appears particularly often in British personal finance discussions — for example, in consumer journalism or conversations about savings accounts. American English speakers use it too, though 'set aside' and 'save up' may be slightly more common there.

Can I say 'I will be putting money away every month' to talk about future plans?

The future continuous sounds slightly forced with this phrasal verb. It's more natural to use a simple present for habits ('I put money away every month') or 'going to' for future intentions ('I'm going to put some money away each month').

Does 'put away' always mean prison, or can it mean something else when the object is a person?

When the object is a person and the context involves crime or courts, it almost always means prison. However, in a mental health context — involving hospitals or psychiatric institutions rather than criminal conviction — 'put away' can refer to being committed to a psychiatric facility. The surrounding context will make it clear which meaning is intended.

Do I always need to say what someone was put away for?

You don't have to, but including a 'for' phrase is extremely common and helps anchor the meaning. You can say 'he was put away' on its own if the context is already clear, but adding a time period ('for five years') or a crime ('for fraud') makes the sentence sound much more natural.

Can I use 'put away' in the present continuous — like 'they are putting him away right now'?

This sounds unnatural in most situations. The simple past and present perfect are by far the most common tenses for this sense, since imprisonment follows a completed verdict. The present continuous could work if you are describing an ongoing legal process, but even then it sounds slightly awkward and speakers would usually choose a different construction.

Is 'put away' used in both British and American English?

Yes, it is used in both varieties and is well understood in both. It appears regularly in crime journalism, TV dramas, and everyday conversation on both sides of the Atlantic, so you don't need to worry about regional restrictions.

What kinds of people or groups can be the object of 'put away' in this sense?

The object must always be a person or group of people — a criminal, a suspect, a gang, a named individual. You cannot use an institution, a concept, or an object as the object in this sense. Examples like 'put the gang away', 'put the dealer away', or 'put her away' are all natural; something like 'put the crime away' is not.

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