to put a quarter in
- phrasal verb
- Informal
- Wow, who put a quarter in Sarah? She’s been giving ideas non-stop all morning.
Examples
-
Ever since you got that promotion, it's like someone put a quarter in you at work.
-
As soon as the music started, he acted like someone had put a quarter in him.
-
She really put a quarter in after the break!
-
Why don't you put a quarter in and join the conversation?
-
As soon as the music started, he acted like someone had put a quarter in him.
-
Wow, who put a quarter in Sarah? She’s been giving ideas non-stop all morning.
-
Ever since you got that promotion, it's like someone put a quarter in you at work.
Synonyms
31
3.1
Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad
16
3.5
Cause a sudden change, for example by moving a small control to turn something on
Antonyms
How Energetic
43
3.9
- Informal
53
4.1
63
3.7
- Informal
- Informal
19
3.9
- Informal
31
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal parts ('put' + 'quarter' + 'in') clearly describe inserting a coin, so there is a visible metaphorical link to being 'switched on' or activated. However, the idiomatic sense (becoming suddenly energetic/talkative) depends on cultural/pragmatic knowledge of coin-operated devices (e.g., jukeboxes) and is not directly predictable from the words alone, so a B1 learner would likely need prior exposure.
Etymology
Put a quarter in comes from machines like jukeboxes or vending machines. When you put a quarter in a machine, the quarter makes it start working or play music. So saying someone has been put a quarter in means they suddenly feel 'switched on' and act lively or talkative.