Tolerate (3,2,4) Crossword Clue
Answer: PUT UP WITH (9 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Tolerate (3,2,4)" with 9 letters is "PUT UP WITH".Put up with means to tolerate or endure something unpleasant or annoying without complaining. It describes the act of accepting a situation, behavior, or person that may be difficult or frustrating, often out of necessity or patience.
Why “Put Up With” Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (3,2,4) meaning “tolerate.” The answer, PUT UP WITH, fits perfectly:
Tolerate: Put up with is a common idiomatic phrase meaning to endure, accept, or tolerate something undesirable or irritating — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
Direct match: With nine letters divided into (3,2,4), put up with neatly fits the given enumeration.
Precise meaning: The phrase describes patience or endurance toward unpleasant situations, people, or conditions, aligning perfectly with the idea of tolerance.
Put up with is one of the most widely used idiomatic expressions in English, reflecting the balance between endurance and restraint:
Origin and usage:
- The phrase dates back to the early 19th century, evolving from earlier uses of put up meaning “to accept lodging or hosting.”
- The addition of with extended its meaning to “accept or endure something or someone.”
- It’s a verbal phrase expressing the ability to withstand difficulties — emotional, physical, or social.
Meaning in context:
- Implies quiet endurance rather than approval: to tolerate without necessarily liking.
- Paints a picture of patience and forbearance under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Examples:
- “I can’t put up with this noise any longer.”
- “She’s learned to put up with her colleague’s bad habits.”
- “They had to put up with uncomfortable conditions during the trip.”
In quick crosswords like “Tolerate (3,2,4),” clues that define emotional states or actions often point to idiomatic phrases:
Definition: The single word “tolerate” encompasses the meaning of the phrase put up with.
Clue type: Straightforward definition clue — direct and idiomatic.
Solving approach:
- Look for common English idioms expressing endurance or patience (put up with, live with, deal with).
- The (3,2,4) pattern strongly indicates a multi-word phrase, helping to eliminate one-word alternatives such as endure or stand.
Crossword pattern: English idioms involving prepositions (put up with, get on with, run out of) appear frequently, testing recognition of everyday expressions rather than literal meanings.
