put (someone or something) through (something)

put (someone or something) through (something)

1. To require or instruct someone or something to complete a test or evaluation. We're going to put your son through a few different developmental tests to see what is at the root of his behavioral issues. We always put our software through rigorous quality assurance testing before it is released to the public.2. To cause someone to undergo or endure something unpleasant, difficult, or traumatic. John put me through a lot of emotional manipulation and distress before I finally broke up with him. You should have called to let me know you'd be so late! Do you have any idea what you've been putting me through?3. To pay the financial requirements for someone to attend and graduate from some academic institution. After my parents died, my Uncle Dan took me under his wing and put me through school. We barely scraped by when I was growing up, so I had to put myself through college with whatever jobs I could find.See also: put, through

put through

To initiate something that succeeds in being accepted, implemented, or completed. A noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "through." In my time as senator, I put through a number of legislative measures that helped curb gun violence.See also: put, through

put someone or something through (to someone)

to put someone's telephone call through to someone. Will you please put me through to the international operator? Please put my call through.See also: put, through

put someone through something

to cause someone to have to endure something. The doctor said he hated to put me through all these tests, but that it was medically necessary.See also: put, through

put through

1. Bring to a successful conclusion, as in We put through a number of new laws. [Mid-1800s] 2. Make a telephone connection, as in Please put me through to the doctor. [Late 1800s] 3. Cause to undergo, especially something difficult or troublesome, as in He put me through a lot during this last year. The related expression, put someone through the wringer, means "to give someone a hard time," as in The lawyer put the witness through the wringer. The wringer alluded to is the old-fashioned clothes wringer, in which clothes are pressed between two rollers to extract moisture. [First half of 1900s] See also: put, through

put through

v.1. To cause something to pass from one side of a boundary, threshold, or opening to the other: I put the thread through the eye of the needle.2. To bring something to completion: They put the project through on time.3. To cause someone or something to complete a process, especially a process of approval: Congress has recently put through a number of new laws. I had to work two jobs to put my child through college.4. To cause someone or something to undergo or experience something unpleasant or difficult: They put me through a lot of trouble. We put all our products through a series of tests.5. To connect some telephone call or caller: Can you put the call through to my office? The operator put me through on the office line.See also: put, through