To put someone on the map

Feifei Hello I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak.

Neil And hello I’m Neil.

Feifei Neil, I wonder if you could help me. I’m trying to find something on this map.

Neil Oh yes, map reading - I’m good at that. What are you trying to find?

Feifei Well, I went to a gig last night and saw this new singer - he was amazing.

Neil Thanks for inviting me! Anyway, what’s that got to with a map?

Feifei Well, 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.

Neil Put 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!

Feifei Right! Actually Neil, I’ve heard about a new restaurant I ate at being ‘put on the map’.

Neil Yes, 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!

Feifei I did! Let’s tuck into some examples shall we?

Examples Her 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.

Feifei So 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.

Neil That’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’.

Feifei Right. Anyway Neil, let me look at that map again…

Neil OK.

Feifei Look! That singer I saw really is on the map - right there.

Neil
Really? What was he called?

Feifei ‘Man-chester’

Neil
Manchester. Of course!

Both Bye.