Let me put it to you this way...

Originally posted July 23, 2008

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I heard NPR's Claire Bolderson a few days ago and I was intrigued by what she said. Not the news report so much (she is reporting from Havana right now) as how she introduced her interview with a Cuban official. She said something like:

"What's happening now in Cuba regarding freedom of speech? I met with [official's name] and thought I would put it to him..."

I started pondering the term Put it to him and was wondering...What does that mean?

She could have said "I thought I'd ask him..." But she said put it to him.

Hmmm...

I'm of the “old school,” I guess, when I hear slang. I'm no prude, growing up in the 70s. I heard (and made use of) a lot of slang. Bogue. Far Out. Be There or Be Square. Heavy. Right On! Truckin'. Of course, there is a lot more slang and slang phrases now, 35 odd years later. To me, put it to him/her conjures up an image of being assertive (if not aggressive) and extremely confident. It's like throwing down a gauntlet (forgive the cliché). A challenge. It is much more resonant than just saying "ask." It is saying...

"Look. I know these things (because I'm an expert interviewer and have this great job at the BBC) and now I'm going to put it (what I know) to you...it's in your hands now to respond to (or--if you dare!--counter) my assertions."

I like it. It's sharp. Definite. But, it is slang. So, I had to find a definition of this verb phrase. I found this from The Free Dictionary:

put it to (someone) Slang.

1. To overburden with tasks or work.
2. To put blame on.
3. To take unfair advantage of.
4. To lay out the facts of a situation to (another) in a forceful candid manner.
5. To defeat soundly; trounce.
   

Claire's usage had to be #4, but I would add this thought to her usage.

Yes, she was being forceful and candid. But with US, the listener. She was saying to the listener: "I'm going to put it to him." But she didn't actually say that to her interviewee. Why? Because using it directly with someone is being forceful and candid, and by extension, not so nice. She was inviting us to be in cahoots with her -- that she was going to be assertive and get the real story. But she didn't want to appear this way to her subject. Like all good journalists, she wanted to appear to be unbiased and objective.

No doubt unconscious for her. But clever.

This little verb is indeed a useful, flexible, slippery, chameleon-like word.

And, after getting to know put a little better, I'm getting quite fond it.

So, if you talk to me someday, you might hear me saying:

"Let me put it to you this way...I put it in the proper place, OK? If you have any more questions about this, I might just have to put it to you."

Don't think I'm being forceful or anything. Just put up with it, OK?