What Does "Put the Boot In" Mean?
"Put the boot in" is an English idiom. It means "to kick or strike someone, often repeatedly and aggressively, causing physical harm or injury."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "put the boot in" used in a sentence:- During the brawl, he put the boot in and inflicted serious injuries on his opponent.
- He had a reputation for putting the boot in during fights, making him a feared competitor.
- Violence is never an appropriate way to resolve conflicts; it's better to seek peaceful solutions than to put the boot in.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Put the Boot In" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "put the boot in" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold

Silver

Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?