put into words — to express thoughts, feelings, or ideas in spoken or written language
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to express thoughts, feelings, or ideas in spoken or written language
Pronunciation (IPA): /pʊt ˈɪntuː ˈwɜːrdz/
Example Sentences
- My grandma's kimchi is so good that I can't put its taste into words.
- The scientist tried to put her complex discovery into words that everyone could understand.
- He was so nervous on his first date that he couldn't put a single sentence into words.
put into words
VERB[/pʊt ˈɪntuː ˈwɜːrdz/]
to express thoughts, feelings, or ideas in spoken or written language
She struggles to put into words how grateful she feels for his help.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrasal verb emerged from a conceptual metaphor in English, treating abstract thoughts as objects that can be placed into a concrete container. The expression combines the Germanic verb 'put' (to place or insert) with the preposition 'into' and the noun 'words', creating an image of channeling intangible ideas into linguistic form, ultimately meaning to express or articulate something in language.
Breakdown
put (Germanic: to place or insert) + into (preposition: toward the inside of) + words (noun: units of language or speech). The metaphorical structure treats thoughts as tangible objects being inserted into the vessel of language.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandma's kimchi is so good that I can't put its taste into words.”
“The scientist tried to put her complex discovery into words that everyone could understand.”
“He was so nervous on his first date that he couldn't put a single sentence into words.”
“It's difficult to put into words how much this award means to me.”
📚Related Words
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