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

put one’s seal to something • put the seal on
 something
put one’s seal to something —(also: set one’s seal to something )
give one’s authority to smth.: They continue to look for a
replacement; a puppet leader to put his seal to a treaty of
capitulation.
put the seal on something —(also: set the seal on something )
bring smth. to a formal end: Why not have another glass of
champagne to put the seal on what will be a truly memorable
day.
put one’s shoulder to the wheel • set the wheels in
motion
put one’s shoulder to the wheel —set to work vigorously con-
tributing to a collective endeavor: I want to put my shoulder
to the wheel, together with others, to help make Atlanta a
better place for everyone.
set the wheels in motion —get smth. started: To set the wheels
in motion, the very first step is to complete an application
form and skills checklist.
See also: keep the wheels turning / spin the wheels.
put oneself in someone’s place • take the place of
someone
put oneself in someone’s place —(also: put oneself in someone’s
shoes) imagine oneself to be in smb.’s position or predicament:
Maybe I am overreacting, but put yourself in my place. How
should I explain all this to my manager?
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase put someone in his place—
1
. scold a person, usually for
rude remark or bad behavior: He is being so mean to the cus-
tomers. Someone needs to put him in his place! 2. remind smb.
in an angry way that he is not as important as he thinks he is:
Somebody please put him in his place. As a scientist, I hate
it when he speaks for “all scientists.”
take the place of someone —replace or supersede a person:
Emile owed his education to an aunt, a saintly woman who
took the place of his deceased mother.