put a premium on — to consider something to be very important or valuable, often more so than usual
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to consider something to be very important or valuable, often more so than usual
Pronunciation (IPA): /pʊt ə ˈpriːmiəm ɑːn/
Example Sentences
- Many companies put a premium on creativity, even if the applicant can't spell 'creativity' correctly.
- My mom puts such a premium on punctuality that she once locked me out for being five minutes late to dinner.
- In a highly competitive job market, employers put a premium on candidates with strong communication skills.
put a premium on
VERB[/pʊt ə ˈpriːmiəm ɑːn/]
to consider something to be very important or valuable, often more so than usual
Top law firms put a premium on candidates who speak three languages fluently.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase originates from insurance terminology. The word 'premium' derives from Latin 'praemium' (reward, profit), which combines 'prae-' (before, first) and 'emere' (to buy, take). The expression 'put a premium on' developed from the figurative sense of attaching extra monetary value to something, thereby treating it as specially valuable.
Breakdown
prae- (before, first) + emere (to buy, take) = praemium (reward, profit) → premium (surcharge, added value). The phrase 'put a premium on' metaphorically means to assign special worth or importance to something by treating it as having extra value.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Many companies put a premium on creativity, even if the applicant can't spell 'creativity' correctly.”
“My mom puts such a premium on punctuality that she once locked me out for being five minutes late to dinner.”
“In a highly competitive job market, employers put a premium on candidates with strong communication skills.”
“She puts such a premium on cleanliness that she once tried to vacuum the vacuum cleaner itself.”
“As remote work becomes common, businesses increasingly put a premium on self-discipline.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.