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Glite Dictionary
to put the moves on

to put the moves on

10 8.6
Try to attract someone by flirting or making sexual advances
  • phrasal verb
  • NSFW
translation icon : coquetear con
  • When he tried to put the moves on her, she smiled but looked away.
  • try to put the moves on
  • start putting the moves on
  • think he was putting the moves on

Examples

  • Audrey, I can't believe he put the moves on me.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • He always knows how to put the moves on someone at a party.

  • I cannot believe he put the moves on me.

    Godzilla (1998)

  • Father Joe put the moves on me once.

    Hot to Trot (1988)

  • Did you put the moves on her or something?

    Adaptation. (2002)

  • You put the moves on Pearl

    The Unbelievable Truth (1990)

  • Well, I feel sorry for the next sucker who tries to put the moves on her.

    Are We There Yet? (2005)

  • He was putting the moves on you to get you to do things his way.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • He was going to put the moves on her sooner or later.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Then, three days ago, Veronica put the moves on Bruno and he left the mansion with her.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

to flirt
vsto put the moves on
267 3.1

Behave playfully or tease someone to show romantic interest

can involve playful teasing or actual direct advances
to hit on
vsto put the moves on
  • NSFW
154 7.8

Try to show romantic or sexual interest in someone by making advances

can be playful flirting or making advances rather than only direct approach
to move in on
vsto put the moves on
  • NSFW
3 7.4

To try to get involved with someone or their work in a way they do not want

covers making advances but not necessarily in an unwelcome or competitive way
to give someone the eye
vsto put the moves on
  • NSFW
2 8.1

Look at someone to show romantic or sexual interest

involves behaviour that can include looks but also active approaches

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to reject
839 1.9

Refuse to accept someone or something

How Flirtatious

to pursue
∞ 3.5
to put the moves on
  • NSFW
10 8.6
to chat up
  • NSFW
4 7.8
to flirt
267 3.1
to smile
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

put the moves on infinitive
put the moves on past
put the moves on past participle
putting the moves on present participle
puts the moves on third person singular

Morphology

put + the + move + on

There is some compositional logic — to 'put' actions ('moves') 'on' someone suggests applying deliberate actions toward a person — so a learner might infer it involves approaching or trying to get someone. However, the specific sense of 'move' as a romantic/sexual advance and the idiomatic phrasing ('put the moves on') are not fully predictable from the literal words, so learners who know the constituents would likely only partially guess the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Put the moves on may come from dancing: someone shows smooth moves on the dance floor to catch a partner's eye. So to put the moves on someone came to mean 'flirt' or 'make romantic advances'.