put up close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put up close" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where you want to indicate placing something near or adjacent to something else, but it is not commonly used. Example: "Please put up close the chairs to the table after the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Friends of Mr Boles said he had been a critic of onshore wind farms being put up close to homes.

Independent

And the local government of Yamanashi put up close to $200 million to subsidize the test center to ensure that as big a piece of the action as possible came to this prefecture of 895,000 people.

The New York Times

Over the last three years Mr. Bertolino, a Boston-born newcomer to theater but not theatrics, went through 14 drafts, assembled a professional cast willing to bare all, and mobilized 24 backers who put up close to $700,000 for the show, which began previews Off Broadway on Sept. 17.

The New York Times

"A-Rod and Derek Jeter are great, but how many guys put up close to their numbers for close to the league minimum?" None of this means that big-market, high-value teams necessarily grow at a slower rate than small-market teams.

Forbes

A red-painted house for the signalman was put up close to the station.

Wikipedia

He has put up close to an 8 1 strikeout to walk ratio for Missouri this season, and is arguably the most Major League ready pitcher in this year's class.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Missing posters were put up; the coffee shop closed its doors, and missing persons investigators checked the morgues and homeless shelters looking for Mr. Rubin.

The New York Times

I joined a crowd of bargain and holiday gift hunters at Bart's CD Cellar, which put up "store closing" signs this week after its out-of-town owners told staff it was shutting down the long-time Boulder business.

Huffington Post

Then, shortly after meeting Conway in the summer of 2003, Juanita let Conway put up five close-up photos of her along with her story again matching much of what Bailey said about her in the book on Conway's Transsexual Women's Successes page (Maria, 2004).

Archives of Sexual Behavior

A statue of him sitting on a park bench was put up in 2001, close to Manchester's  gay quarter.

Independent

Where there was unfettered open space, some new owners put up fences and close off private beaches.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider replacing "put up close" with more common alternatives such as "place nearby" or "set close".

Common error

Avoid using "put up close" in formal writing. It can sound unnatural and less precise than alternatives like "place nearby" or "position closely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put up close" functions as a phrasal verb followed by an adverb, attempting to describe the action of positioning something in proximity to something else. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not standard, suggesting it can be confusing and less precise than other alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put up close" is an attempt to describe positioning something near another object, yet Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard and potentially confusing. While examples appear in News & Media and Wiki sources, its grammatical awkwardness makes it less suitable for formal contexts. Better alternatives include "place nearby" or "position closely", offering clearer and more precise communication. Therefore, writers should carefully consider context and opt for more conventional phrasing to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

place nearby

Replaces the phrasal verb "put up" with a simpler verb "place" and uses "nearby" as a single-word adverb.

set close

Substitutes "put up" with "set" and maintains the "close" adverb, offering a more concise alternative.

position closely

Replaces the phrasal verb with a single verb "position" and modifies it with the adverb "closely".

locate in proximity

Uses a more formal register by employing "locate" and "in proximity".

arrange nearby

Replaces "put up" with "arrange" and uses "nearby" as an adverb to denote closeness.

install adjacently

Suggests a more permanent placement, using "install" and the adverb "adjacently".

affix nearly

Implies attachment, using "affix" and "nearly" to indicate close but not necessarily touching.

mount close to

Suitable for items that are attached to a surface, using "mount" and "close to" for spatial relation.

situate closely

A more formal alternative, replacing "put up" with "situate" and modifying with "closely".

bring near

A simpler, more direct way to express moving something into a close position.

FAQs

What does "put up close" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "put up close" generally suggests positioning something near something else. More common alternatives include "place nearby" or "set close".

How can I use "put up close" in a sentence?

Although grammatically unconventional, one might say, "Please put up close the chairs to the table". However, it's clearer to say, "Please "place the chairs nearby the table"".

Which is correct, "put up close" or "place nearby"?

"Place nearby" is grammatically more standard and widely accepted. "Put up close" is less common and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What are some alternatives to "put up close"?

Consider alternatives such as "set close", "position closely", or "locate in proximity" depending on the context and desired level of formality.