Put on

Put on

The phrasal verb I’d like to tell you about today is “put on.” You’ve probably heard this before in a different context. Like, I’m going to put on a jacket because it’s cold outside. Or I’m going to put on my shoes before going out of the house. But it has another meaning as a phrasal verb. Here’s how you heard it the first time: The government of Saudi Arabia is putting on expos and conventions to teach women how to drive. That means the government of Saudi Arabia is organizing the event.

When you are organizing a big event, you often say you’re putting on an event. In the city where I live, there is a company that puts on street festivals in different neighborhoods all summer long. That company organizes and sponsors the festivals. They advertise it, they get permits to close the roads, they organize the food vendors, artists, and other sponsors. They do all the work; it was their idea. They put on the festivals.

In New York City, one of the most popular outdoor events is called Shakespeare in the Park. The Public Theater in Astor Place in New York City puts on free outdoor plays in Central Park, and they are all Shakespeare plays. This year they are putting on Othello and Twelfth Night. This one theater company puts on this series of events in Central Park—meaning, the Public Theater organizes everything. It was their idea—it started in 1962—and they give away the tickets for free. If you ever visit New York in the summertime, I recommend trying to get tickets—they’re all free, but they are hard to get. If you can get a ticket, it’s worth it.

So now you know a new way to use the phrasal verb put on. Put on a concert, put on a convention, things like that.

Remember, if you’re in Italy, check out PlainEnglish.com/65 and take a look at the Italian translations. Let me know what you think of them, if you find them helpful. I love hearing from listeners, so send me a note, introduce yourself, tell me about why you’re learning English. I love to hear it. My email address is [email protected] and the show’s name on Twitter and Facebook is PlainEnglishPod. Don’t forget JR and I will be back with a new episode on Friday. Click “follow” in Spotify or “subscribe” in your podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.