It’s a phrase we hear, and perhaps even use, without much thought: “Are you putting me on?” Or maybe you’ve caught yourself saying, “She’s just putting on an act.” The simple act of ‘putting on’ is surprisingly layered, carrying a spectrum of meanings from the playful to the deceptive.
At its most basic, ‘putting on’ is about donning something. Think of putting on a coat when it’s chilly, or putting on makeup to enhance your appearance. It’s a physical act, a visible change. But the reference material hints at something deeper, a subtler form of ‘putting on’ that involves our behavior and emotions.
This is where it gets interesting. We can ‘put on’ a manner, like feigning a saintly disposition when we’re anything but. It’s about creating an outward show that doesn’t necessarily reflect our inner reality. This can be for amusement, as in a playful jest or a lighthearted ‘kid,’ or it can be a more deliberate attempt to mislead, often for a laugh. Jacob Brackman, quoted in the reference, connects these conversational ‘put-ons’ to old-fashioned joshing, suggesting a tradition of playful deception.
Then there’s the ‘put-on’ as a performance, a parody or spoof. Imagine a comedian mimicking a famous figure with exaggerated gestures – that’s a ‘put-on’ in the sense of a deliberate imitation, often for comedic effect. C.A. Ridley’s description of a film as a ‘kind of put-on of every pretentious film ever made’ perfectly captures this idea of mocking imitation.
Beyond these, ‘putting on’ can also mean adding to something, like putting on weight, or causing something to operate, such as putting the light on. It can even be about exaggeration, overstating a point. And in the UK, it can refer to producing something, like putting on a meal for guests.
What’s fascinating is how often this phrase skirts the edge of authenticity. When someone is ‘putting it on,’ there’s an implied artificiality, a strain that’s not quite natural. It’s the opposite of genuine. You might wonder if someone’s tears are real or if they’re just ‘putting on’ an injured expression. The line between genuine emotion and a performance can be incredibly fine, and ‘putting on’ is the term we use to describe that deliberate crossing of the line.
So, the next time you hear or use the phrase, take a moment to consider the context. Is it a friendly tease, a deliberate deception, a theatrical performance, or simply a physical act? The humble phrase ‘putting on’ reveals a lot about how we present ourselves and how we interpret the presentations of others.
