Put him through vs Relay

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

Put him through

Top 2,000 (common)

Relay

Top 2,000 (common)
 Put him throughRelay
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //pʊt hɪm θruː//🇺🇸 //pʊt hɪm θru//🇬🇧 //rɪˈleɪ//🇺🇸 //rɪˈleɪ//
MeaningTo connect someone on a phone call.A race where teams take turns running, or passing something.
ExampleCan you please put him through to the manager?The relay team won the competition.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationsput someone through, put a call through, put her through, put him through on hold, put them through directlyrelay race, relay information, relay team, relay baton, relay station
Common mistakesConfused with 'put through' in other contexts like completing tasks., Omitting 'him' when talking about connecting a person., Using 'to' instead of 'through' when referring to calls.Confused with 'release' which has a different meaning., Using 'relay' as a noun and forgetting it's also a verb.
Usage notesCommonly used in phone contexts; avoid in formal writing. Use when referring to transferring calls.Common in sports contexts; can also refer to passing information. Suitable for all audiences.

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Put him through

Frequently asked questions: Put him through vs Relay

What's the difference between Put him through and Relay?

Put him through: To connect someone on a phone call. Relay: A race where teams take turns running, or passing something.

Can you show an example of each?

Put him through: Can you please put him through to the manager? Relay: The relay team won the competition.

Can I use Put him through and Relay interchangeably?

Not always. Put him through and Relay 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.

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