put them away

USAGE SUMMARY

"put them away" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to signify that you are taking certain items and putting them in a storage location, usually a drawer or box. For example, "Since we're done playing with the toys, let's put them away."

✓ Grammatically correct

Cleaning and organizing

Sports (finishing a game)

Storing items

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I put them away".

The New York Times - Arts

Do not put them away immediately.

The Economist

"We should have easily put them away.

The New York Times - Sports

Put them away until next holiday season.

The New Yorker

People put them away, or lose them".

The New York Times

We'll put them away forever.

The New York Times

We don't put them away".

The New York Times

Put them away and use them later.

The New York Times - Style

But Duke can't put them away.

The New York Times

We just didn't put them away".

The New York Times - Sports

We just couldn't put them away".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put them away" when you want to emphasize the act of restoring order by placing items in their designated storage locations.

Common error

Avoid using "put them away" when the intention is to discard or eliminate items permanently. For disposal, use phrases like "get rid of them" or "throw them out" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put them away" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of taking items and placing them in a designated storage location. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's commonly used for cleaning and organizing, as shown in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

32%

Huffington Post

15%

Less common in

The New Yorker

3%

BBC

1%

Forbes

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put them away" is a very common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the action of storing items, typically for the purpose of tidying up or organizing. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in written English. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and ensure it aligns with the intended meaning – avoiding it when the intent is disposal rather than storage. Common contexts include news, lifestyle articles, and general guides, making it applicable across various writing styles and scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

store them

Direct synonym, focusing on the act of placing items into storage.

stash them

Implies hiding or concealing items, often for later retrieval.

pack them up

Suggests gathering items and preparing them for storage or transport.

tidy them up

Focuses on cleaning and organizing items by placing them in their proper locations.

shelve them

Specifically refers to placing items on a shelf.

lock them up

Implies securing items, often to prevent theft or access.

finish them off

In a sporting context, it means to decisively win or conclude a game.

wrap them up

Conclude something efficiently.

seal them away

Suggests placing items in a secure container for long-term storage.

dispose of them

Implies getting rid of unwanted items.

FAQs

How can I use "put them away" in a sentence?

You can use "put them away" to describe the act of placing items in their designated storage location after use. For example, "After playing with the toys, please "put them away"." or "She told him to "put them away" after he was done."

What's the difference between "put them away" and "store them"?

"Put them away" often implies tidying or organizing items after use. "Store them", on the other hand, is a more general term that simply refers to placing items in a location for safekeeping or future use. The first implies that you have already used it, the second one does not.

What are some alternatives to "put them away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "store them", "tidy them up", or "pack them up".

Is it correct to say "put away them" instead of "put them away"?

No, "put away them" is grammatically incorrect. With phrasal verbs like "put away", the pronoun (in this case, "them") usually goes between the verb and the particle. The correct order is ""put them away"".