Feifei Hello I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak.
NeilAnd hello I’m Neil.
FeifeiNeil, I wonder if you could help me. I’m trying to find something on this map.
NeilOh yes, map reading – I’m good at that. What are you trying to find?
FeifeiWell, I went to a gig last night and saw this new singer – he was amazing.
NeilThanks for inviting me! Anyway, what’s that got to with a map?
FeifeiWell, afterwards everyone was talking about it and saying the gig was so good that it will ‘put him on the map’. But… I just can’t find him on here.
NeilPut the map away Feifei – you won’t find him there. When we say someone will be ‘put on the map’ it means they will become famous or become more prominent – but not on a map!
FeifeiRight! Actually Neil, I’ve heard about a new restaurant I ate at being ‘put on the map’.
NeilYes, something as well as someone can be put on the map – or in other words, become famous, popular or well known. You must have eaten at a good quality restaurant for it to be put on the map!
FeifeiI did! Let’s tuck into some examples shall we?
ExamplesHer first exhibition at the Tate gallery has put her on the map as a serious modern artist. .
This great tasting food has really put this new restaurant on the map.
Hosting the Olympics has put this city on the map as a great place to come for a holiday.
FeifeiSo that’s to put someone or something on the map – to become famous, popular or more prominent. I suppose it suggests that becoming famous means you are now important enough for your name to be seen or heard by everyone.
NeilThat’s right. In the old days when a place was too small and unimportant it wasn’t shown on a map – but when it became more important it was ‘put on the map’.
FeifeiRight. Anyway Neil, let me look at that map again…
NeilOK.
FeifeiLook! That singer I saw really is on the map – right there.
Neil Really? What was he called?
Feifei‘Man-chester’
Neil Manchester. Of course!
BothBye.