put / set sb to work

/pˌʊt sˈɛt ˌɛsbˈiː tə wˈɜːk/

[phrase]

to put / set sb to work

[PHRASE]

to assign a task or job to a person

synonyms : work

to [put|set] {sb} to work definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "put somebody to work" and when to use it?

The exact origin of the phrase "put somebody to work" is unknown, but it likely comes from the literal meaning of the words, which simply means to assign someone to a task or job. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from a boss giving an employee a task to a parent asking a child to help with household chores.

put sth to work

/pˌʊt ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ tə wˈɜːk/

[phrase]

to put sth to work

[PHRASE]

to use something, such as one's skills, possessions, etc.

to [put] {sth} to work definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "put something to work" and when to use it?

The origin of the English idiom "put something to work" is not entirely clear, as the phrase has likely evolved over time through common usage. However, the word "work" has been used to describe productive activity or labor since the Middle English period, and the combination of "put" and "work" has been used to describe the act of making something useful or productive since at least the 17th century. It is used to describe the act of using something in a practical or productive way to achieve a specific goal.

Examples

1. After the storm, the community came together to clean up the streets, putting everyone to work to restore their neighborhood.

2. They can capture the imagination of investors quickly and they can put people to work very quickly.

3. Soon the world's first cell production facility was churning out 6 trillion HeLa cells a week, and scientists put them to work in an ethically problematic way, building careers and fortunes off of Henrietta's cells without her or her family's consent, or even knowledge until decades later.

4. But behind this propaganda is a hidden story about a longstanding and highly controversial government labor program that experts say often puts people to work against their will.

Nearby words