A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

lay something to • put something to
lay something to —(of a ship) anchor near a certain location:
Till the next morning, she was laid to, under a close reefed
main top sail.
put something to —close smth. firmly: Please put the door
to, it’s come open a little.
lay something up • put something up
lay something up—
1
. (also: lay something by) save or store
smth. for future use: The power stations are laying up their
usual supplies of coal. 2. (of a car, boat, etc.) take out of use
(for repairs, etc.): At the end of the season, all the boats are
formally laid up in the harbor.
put something up —
1
. build smth.; place smth. in position:
You have to put up a fence one foot away from the property
line. 2. show smth. such as a notice in a public place: The
examination results will be put up on this board tomorrow.
3. (of cost, taxes, etc.) increase or raise: These rents are fixed
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lay something up

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and cannot be put up. 4. pack smth.: She put up a parcel for
her daughter who was away at college. 5. offer opposition:
They were looking for an excuse to stop fighting, because nei-
ther one of them put up an argument. 6. offer smth. for sale:
After grandmother’s death, the furniture was put up for sale.
7. = lay something up 2: We had to put the car up for the win-
ter, it was not fit to drive in snow.
Note: 
The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with
the phrase set something up—
1
. = put something up 
1
: Does
any of you know how to set up a tent? 2. establish an organi-
zation: A special committee has been set up to examine the
details of the suggestion. 3. (Sport) reach a new record: The
young swimmer has set up a new fast time for the backstroke.
4. place drinks or glasses ready: Will you set up the drinks while
I look after the food? 5. cause pain or infection: This wet
weather sets up the ache in my old wound. 6. produce a loud
noise: The crowd set up a shout as the winner neared the post.