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

put the shoe on the other foot • put the shoe on
the right foot
put the shoe on the other foot—experience the opposite situ-
ation (when circumstances are reversed): I could put the shoe
on the other foot, and think how this would effect me if we
turn the tables.
put the shoe on the right foot—(also: lay the saddle upon the
right horse) put the blame on the right person: Don’t keep on
blaming me, Graham was the culprit. Put the shoe on the
right foot.
put the skids on something • put the skids under
something
put the skids on something —bring smth. to a halt : After
World War II put the skids on the big band era, Louis Arm-
strong and many others cast about for a new direction.
put the skids under something —stop smth. from succeeding
or making progress: Will progressively higher interest rates
put the skids under our growing economy.
put up a good show • put up a show
put up a good show —perform well; make a good effect: In
the words of Osborne, who leads the raid, the important thing
is to put up a “good show.”
put up a show —(also: put on a show) display an outward
appearance or semblance of smth.: I thought I was the only
one who wasn’t brave — but then I found out that they all were
putting up a show.
put words into someone’s mouth • take the words
out of someone’s mouth
put words into someone’s mouth —
1
. tell a person what to say:
“So you refuse to explain?” she asked sharply. “Now don’t go
putting words into my mouth, please,” Jean retorted. 2. sug-
gest or claim falsely that a person has said smth.: Frank said
fiercely: “She never said anything! You’re trying to put words
in her mouth!”
take the words out of someone’s mouth —say what another
person was about to say; anticipate smb.’s words: “Wasn’t that
a magnificent performance?” “You took the words right out
of my mouth!”
Q