put him away

USAGE SUMMARY

'put him away' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to when something or someone is removed from a given situation. For example, "The referee had to put him away for the rest of the match after the player's violent outburst."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We'll put him away now.

The Guardian - Sport

Can Lackey put him away?

The Guardian - Sport

Because Reacher put him away years ago.

The Guardian - Books

We put him away from the church, as a community".

The New York Times

They certainly believed they had enough to put him away.

The Economist

We put him away in a residential studio.

Independent

"He loves women; that's why we put him away".

The New York Times

As for that upstart Obama, she would swiftly put him away.

Independent

"After he won the Topham Barry begged me to put him away for the National and hold his mark.

Independent

There was no physical evidence at his trial for rape, but one overwhelming factor put him away: he confessed.

The New York Times

We'll put him away and go straight for the St Leger.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "put him away" in sports contexts, ensure it clearly conveys a decisive victory or preventing further participation, not merely a temporary setback.

Common error

Avoid using "put him away" in contexts where a gentler or more nuanced term is appropriate, as it can imply a forceful or even violent action. Choose a synonym like "remove" or "separate" when the situation calls for it.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "put him away" is that of a phrasal verb. It's used transitively, meaning it requires a direct object (in this case, "him"). According to Ludwig, this phrasal verb is commonly used and widely understood.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

30%

General

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "put him away" is a versatile expression with distinct meanings depending on context. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It commonly refers to incarcerating someone or decisively defeating an opponent. Grammatically sound and widely used, its frequency is high across various sources, particularly in News & Media. When writing, be aware of the connotations, as it can imply a forceful action. Consider alternatives like "imprison him" or "defeat him decisively" for greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imprison him

Focuses specifically on the act of incarceration.

lock him up

An informal way to describe imprisonment.

defeat him decisively

Emphasizes a complete victory or overcoming of an opponent.

confine him

Emphasizes restricting someone's movement or freedom.

incapacitate him

Highlights rendering someone unable to act or function.

take him out of action

Highlights removing someone from participation or involvement.

neutralize him

Indicates rendering someone ineffective or harmless.

subdue him

Suggests bringing someone under control through force or authority.

get rid of him

Suggests eliminating a problem or obstacle, which could include a person.

vanquish him

A more formal or archaic way to describe defeating someone.

FAQs

What does "put him away" mean?

The phrase "put him away" can mean to imprison someone, decisively defeat them, or remove them from a situation.

How to use "put him away" in a sentence?

You can use "put him away" in a sentence to describe sending someone to prison, such as: "The evidence was enough to "imprison him"." Or, to describe defeating someone, such as: "The champion promised to "defeat him decisively" in the final round."

Which is correct, "put him away" or "put away him"?

"Put him away" is the correct phrasal verb construction. "Put away him" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "put him away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "imprison him", "defeat him decisively", or "incapacitate him".