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

put someone through • put someone through it
put someone through —
1
. cause smb. to go through an oper-
ation, a course of study, etc.: I was able to put all my students
through, except three whose English was the weakest. 2. put
smb. in touch with a person by telephone : He lifted the
receiver — listened and then said: “Put her through.”
put someone through it—subject a person to a severe test or
trying experience: Evidently she had been put through it in
the interval, for she was crying bitterly.
put someone to the acid test • put the acid on
someone
put someone to the acid test—submit smb. to a crucial test
that will show his qualities: His words hit me with a jolt of
truth, and after listening to him speak, I decided to put him
to the acid test.
put the acid on someone—(Austral., NZ sl.) exert pressure on
a person (to obtain a loan, favor, etc.): They want to shift the
ship at seven. That puts the acid on us.
put someone up for something • put someone up
to something
put someone up for something —
1
. propose smb. as a candidate
for a position: We’ll put him up for treasurer at the next com-
mittee meeting. 2. bring a person into court to stand trial:
The jewel thieves will be put up for trial next month.
Note: 
The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the
phrase put someone down for something—
1
. decide that smb.
is a particular kind of person: I fear they put me down for a
prig, an upstart, an abominable aristocrat. 2. put a person’s
name on a list of participants, contributors, etc.: We’re having a
picnic and everyone is bringing something. Can I put you
down for potato salad?
put someone up to something —
1
. prepare smb. for a job or
task; instruct a person: Get an expert to put him up to the
job in as short a time as possible. 2. encourage a person to
behave mischievously or unlawfully: He’s not been out of trou-
ble all term, and he’s been put up to it by some of the older
boys.