Place vs You put him in my lap

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Place

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun

You put him in my lap

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Place
 PlaceYou put him in my lap
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/pleɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pleɪs/"]/🇬🇧 //juː pʊt hɪm ɪn maɪ læp//🇺🇸 //juː pʊt hɪm ɪn maɪ læp//
Meaninga location or areaYou place someone on your legs while sitting.
ExampleThis is a great place to have a picnic.You put him in my lap during the movie.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsfinish in, get, take, go to somebody, convenient, good, great, mark, lose, name, at a/​the place, in a/​the place, in place, all over the place, no place, not the place, convenient, good, great, mark, lose, name, at a/​the place, in a/​the place, in place, all over the place, no place, not the place, convenient, good, great, mark, lose, name, at a/​the place, in a/​the place, in place, all over the place, no place, not the place, convenient, good, great, mark, lose, name, at a/​the place, in a/​the place, in place, all over the place, no place, not the place, convenient, good, great, mark, lose, name, at a/​the place, in a/​the place, in place, all over the place, no place, not the place, sit (down) in, take, go back to, card, mat, setting, the place of honour/​honor, college, nursery, school, get, win, award somebody, place at, place in, place on, get, offer somebody, lose, place on, finish in, get, take, go to somebody, central, important, prominent, have, hold, occupy, place in, it’s not somebody’s place to, a place in history, convenient, good, great, mark, lose, name, at a/​the place, in a/​the place, in place, all over the place, no place, not the place, central, important, prominent, have, hold, occupy, place in, it’s not somebody’s place to, a place in historyput in my lap, place in my lap, sit in my lap
Antonymsdisplace, remove, depart-
Common mistakesConfused with 'space' when describing unoccupied areas., Using 'place' as a verb only in casual conversation, overlooking its formal uses., Mixing up 'place' as a noun with 'to place' as a verb.Confused with 'lay' instead of 'put'., Using 'on' instead of 'in' when describing placement., Misunderstanding 'lap' to mean something other than the legs.
Usage notesUsed in both formal and informal contexts. 'Place' is suitable for speaking about locations, positions, and situational contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual settings where more specific language might be more appropriate.This phrase is often used informally among friends or family. It's not typically used in formal writing or situations. 'Lap' refers to the flat area on your thighs when sitting.

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Place
You put him in my lap

Frequently asked questions: Place vs You put him in my lap

What's the difference between Place and You put him in my lap?

Place: a location or area You put him in my lap: You place someone on your legs while sitting.

Which is more common: Place and You put him in my lap?

Place is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Place: This is a great place to have a picnic. You put him in my lap: You put him in my lap during the movie.

Can I use Place and You put him in my lap interchangeably?

Not always. Place and You put him in my lap are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.