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

put someone on to someone • put someone
through to someone
put someone on to someone —
1
. put smb. in touch with a per-
son, especially by telephone: John insisted on being put on to
the man in charge. 2. inform of a person’s whereabouts (so
that he can be caught): Sooner or later he will be spotted in
the street, and the police will be put on to him.
put someone through to someone — = put someone on to some-
one 
1
: He tells me that he can’t help me but he will put me
through to someone who can.
put someone on trial • take someone on trial
put someone on trial —cause a person to be tried in a court
of law: Four persons were put on trial as participators in the
attempt.
take someone on trial —see whether smb. is suitable for a job
by letting the person do it for a short time: I will take the
maid for a month on trial.
put someone out of oneself • take someone out of
oneself
put someone out of oneself —overpower smb. with a strong
emotional effect as to make a person helpless or ineffective: I
had never faced the grim fear exactly in this shape before. It
put me out of myself for a little time.
take someone out of oneself —amuse or interest a person so as
to distract his attention from his worries or concerns: There
was nothing that he could do — no action which would take
him out of himself and ease the tension of his thoughts.
Note:
Neither expression is antonymous in meaning to the
phrase bring someone to oneself—
1
. cause a person to return to
consciousness: A glass of ice water in the face brought her to
herself. 2. make smb. return to reality (remember his surround-
ings, etc.): The sudden sound of the train whistle brought me
to myself.