Put Up With Meaning in English Conversation: Essential Phrase Guide for Daily Use

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Put Up With Meaning: Essential English Phrase Guide for Daily Conversations

Have you ever wondered what it means when someone says they "put up with" something or someone? This common English phrasal verb appears frequently in everyday conversations, but its meaning and usage can be tricky for English learners. In this guide, we'll explore the meaning, usage patterns, and contexts of "put up with" to help you incorporate this essential expression into your English vocabulary.

What Does "Put Up With" Mean?

"How do you put up with your cat messing up the room all the time?"

"Put up with" is a phrasal verb that means to tolerate something or someone unpleasant, difficult, or annoying without complaining too much or ending the situation. It implies enduring something negative or challenging, often because you feel you have no choice or because there are benefits that outweigh the negatives.

Basic Meaning and Structure

"Put up with" is always followed by a noun or a gerund (verb + -ing). The structure is:

  • Subject + put up with + noun/pronoun/gerund

Examples:

  • "I don't know how you put up with him."
  • "She puts up with his messiness because she loves him."
  • "They put up with living in a small apartment to save money."


How to Use "Put Up With" in Different Contexts

Personal Relationships

In personal relationships, "put up with" often describes tolerating someone's negative traits or behaviors:

  • "He puts up with me so much. I'm a total mess, and he's super neat."
  • "How do you put up with her constant complaining?"

  • "You're the girl who's been putting up with Franklin."

In these examples, the phrase suggests tolerating someone's flaws or difficult behavior because of love, commitment, or other positive aspects of the relationship.

Difficult Situations

"Put up with" can also refer to enduring challenging circumstances:

  • "I don't have to put up with this 24/7."
  • "I realized I can put up with that easily."
  • "I can put up with anything because it's so attractive."

These examples show how people rationalize tolerating difficult situations when they perceive some benefit or reward.

Refusing to Tolerate

The phrase is often used in negative statements to express limits to what someone will tolerate:

  • "I'm just not going to put up with it."
  • "I don't have to put up with him anymore."

These expressions indicate that someone has reached their threshold for tolerance and is setting boundaries.

🔄 Similar Expressions to “Put Up With” — What’s the Difference?

While “put up with” is a widely used phrase in everyday conversation, there are several other English expressions that carry a similar meaning — to endure or tolerate something unpleasant. Let’s take a look at some common alternatives and how they differ in tone and usage.

🔹 Tolerate

  • Meaning: To allow or accept something unpleasant or annoying without interference.

  • Example: I won’t tolerate bad behavior in my class. 


  • Difference:

    • “Tolerate” sounds more formal and neutral. It’s often used in professional or academic settings rather than casual conversations.

🔹 Stand

  • Meaning: To bear or endure something emotionally or physically unpleasant.

  • Example: I can’t stand his attitude anymore. 


  • Difference:

    • “Stand” is informal and emotional. It often shows strong dislike or frustration.

🔹 Bear

  • Meaning: To endure something difficult or painful, often silently or patiently.

  • Example: She bore the pain without saying a word.

  • Difference:

    • “Bear” is a bit more literary or old-fashioned. It can sound dramatic or poetic depending on the context.

🔹 Endure

  • Meaning: To continue through hardship or suffering for a long time.

  • Example: He endured years of hardship with resilience.

  • Difference:

    • “Endure” implies long-term suffering and is more common in serious or emotional contexts.

🤔 Which Term Should You Use in the Title?

Since the phrase “put up with” is more conversational, idiomatic, and widely used in spoken English, it's best for engaging titles targeting learners who want to sound natural and fluent. Words like “tolerate” or “endure” might sound too formal or abstract for everyday use guides.

📌 Recommended Title Style:

Put Up With Meaning in English: Everyday Alternatives Like Tolerate, Stand, Bear, and More

 

Common Mistakes and Practical Expressions

Mistake #1: Incorrect Preposition

❌ "She puts on with his behavior." ✓ "She puts up with his behavior."

The correct phrasal verb uses "up with," not other prepositions.

Mistake #2: Breaking Up the Phrasal Verb

❌ "She puts his behavior up with." ✓ "She puts up with his behavior."

"Put up with" should stay together as a unit in a sentence.

Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Tense Form

❌ "I am putting up her criticism." ✓ "I am putting up with her criticism."

Always include the preposition "with" after "put up" in all tense forms.

Mistake #4: Following with Wrong Word Form

❌ "I can't put up with to work with her." ✓ "I can't put up with working with her."

After "put up with," use a noun, pronoun, or gerund (not an infinitive).

Quiz: Test Your Understanding

  1. What does the phrase "put up with" mean?
    a) To support someone b) To tolerate something unpleasant c) To lift something d) To accommodate a guest

  2. Which sentence uses "put up with" correctly?
    a) She puts with up his behavior. b) She puts up his behavior with. c) She puts up with his behavior. d) She puts up his with behavior.

  3. In the sentence "I don't know how you put up with him," what is being expressed?
    a) Curiosity about someone's ability to tolerate another person b) Advice on how to handle someone c) Instructions for physical placement d) A request for help

  4. Which word can NOT typically follow "put up with"?
    a) Her b) That c) To go (infinitive) d) Living (gerund)

  5. "She puts up with his messiness." What does this sentence suggest?
    a) She cleans up after him b) She tolerates his untidy habits c) She enjoys his creative disorder d) She has hired help for cleaning

  6. Which sentence expresses reaching a limit of tolerance?
    a) "He puts up with me." b) "I'm just not going to put up with it." c) "How do you put up with him?" d) "That is the main reason why I put up with so much."

  7. What type of verb is "put up with"?
    a) Auxiliary verb b) Modal verb c) Phrasal verb d) Linking verb

  8. In what contexts is "put up with" commonly used? (Choose all that apply)
    a) Difficult relationships b) Challenging circumstances c) Setting boundaries d) All of the above

  9. What feeling does "put up with" typically convey?
    a) Joy and happiness b) Neutral observation c) Some level of dissatisfaction or struggle d) Complete satisfaction

  10. Which is a synonym for "put up with"?
    a) Enjoy b) Tolerate c) Celebrate d) Reject

Answers: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-c, 5-b, 6-b, 7-c, 8-d, 9-c, 10-b

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is "put up with" formal or informal?

"Put up with" is more common in informal or conversational English. In formal writing or speech, alternatives like "tolerate" or "endure" might be preferred.

2. Can "put up with" be used positively?

While typically used for negative situations, it can sometimes be used in contexts where someone willingly tolerates minor inconveniences for a greater benefit, which has a slightly positive connotation.

3. What's the difference between "put up with" and "tolerate"?

"Put up with" is more informal and often implies emotional endurance, while "tolerate" is more formal and can suggest a more deliberate or principled acceptance.

4. Can I use "put up with" in business communications?

It's better to use more formal alternatives in professional written communication, though "put up with" might be acceptable in casual workplace conversations.

5. How do I know when someone has had enough of "putting up with" something?

People often signal this by using negative forms like "I'm not going to put up with this anymore" or "I don't have to put up with this."

6. Can "put up with" be used for temporary situations?

Yes, it can refer to both temporary situations ("I'll put up with the noise until the construction is finished") and ongoing ones ("She puts up with his snoring every night").

7. Is there a noun form of "put up with"?

There's no direct noun form, but related concepts include "tolerance," "endurance," or "patience."

8. How is "put up with" different from "deal with"?

"Put up with" suggests passive tolerance of something negative, while "deal with" can imply more active handling or addressing of a situation.

9. Can "put up with" be used reflexively?

No, you wouldn't say "put up with myself." It's used for tolerating external factors or other people.

10. Does "put up with" have the same meaning in all English-speaking countries?

Yes, the core meaning is consistent across American, British, Australian, and other varieties of English, though usage frequency might vary slightly.

Real-life Situations

Scenario 1: Roommate Issues

Sarah lives with a roommate who often leaves dirty dishes in the sink. When talking to her friend, she might say, "I put up with her messiness because she's always there when I need emotional support." This shows how we often tolerate minor annoyances in relationships that have other significant benefits.

Scenario 2: Workplace Dynamics

John has a brilliant colleague who sometimes takes credit for others' work. He might think, "I put up with his behavior because working with him helps me advance my career." This illustrates how career benefits might outweigh interpersonal challenges.

Scenario 3: Relationship Boundaries

After repeated arguments, Maria finally tells her partner, "I'm not going to put up with your jealousy anymore." This demonstrates setting boundaries when tolerance reaches its limit.

Scenario 4: Difficult Living Conditions

Students might say, "We put up with living in this tiny apartment because it's close to campus." This shows how people tolerate inconveniences for practical benefits.

Scenario 5: Social Dynamics

In a friend group, someone might ask, "How do you put up with Matt? He's so demanding!" This common usage expresses surprise at someone else's level of tolerance.

Key Takeaways

  • "Put up with" means to tolerate or endure something or someone unpleasant without ending the situation.
  • The expression is typically used in contexts where there's some negative aspect being tolerated, often because there are offsetting benefits.
  • The structure is always "put up with" + noun/pronoun/gerund - never separate these elements.
  • The phrase often reveals relationship dynamics, personal boundaries, or value judgments.
  • Using negative forms ("not put up with") is a common way to express setting boundaries.
  • In professional contexts, more formal alternatives like "tolerate" or "endure" may be preferable.

Mini Vocabulary Box

Essential Vocabulary

Phrasal verb: A verb combined with prepositions or adverbs that creates a meaning different from the original verb Tolerate: To allow or endure something unpleasant without complaining Endure: To suffer something difficult or unpleasant patiently Threshold: A point at which tolerance ends and action begins Rationalize: To explain or justify behavior with logical reasons

Cultural Tip 🌍

In American culture, people often openly discuss what they "put up with" in relationships as a way of processing frustrations. In some Asian cultures, discussing what you "put up with" might be seen as complaining or disloyal. Understanding these cultural differences can help avoid misunderstandings when using this phrase in multicultural settings.

Quick Tip

  • Remember that "put up with" always stays together as a unit in sentences.
  • Use "put up with" when describing tolerance of negative situations or behaviors.
  • When you reach your limit, "I won't put up with this anymore" is a common boundary-setting phrase.

Bonus: Related Expressions

  • "Draw the line": To set a limit beyond which you will not tolerate something Example: "I draw the line at lending him money again."

  • "Have had enough": To reach the limit of your tolerance Example: "I've had enough of your excuses."

  • "Turn a blind eye": To deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant Example: "She turns a blind eye to his occasional rudeness."

References & Sources


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