put down roots
put down roots — idiom
1. to move to a new town or city and gradually build a life there — making friends,
to move to a new town or city and gradually build a life there — making friends, joining local groups, and creating a sense of belonging until the place feels like your real home
After two years in Lisbon, Takeshi had put down roots and no longer missed his old life in Tokyo.
put down roots + in [place]
Nia and her husband put down roots in the quiet village, joining the local choir and the gardening club.
The Okonkwo family moved six times before finally putting down roots in a coastal town in Oregon.
It took Salma a year to put down roots in her neighbourhood, but now she greets every shopkeeper by name.
Many refugees struggle to put down roots when they are moved from camp to camp.
- settle down
broader — can mean calming your lifestyle, not just connecting to a place
- make a home
focuses on the physical and emotional creation of a home space, less on community ties
用法筆記
Describes a gradual process of social and emotional settling, not just moving house. The focus is on building connections and feeling at home in a community.
常見錯誤
put down roots — phrasal verb
- puts down roots3rd person singular
- putting down roots-ing form
- put down rootspast simple
1. to settle in a place with the intention of staying there for a long time or perm
to settle in a place with the intention of staying there for a long time or permanently, rather than treating it as a temporary stop
Eitan decided to put down roots in Melbourne after travelling the world for nearly a decade.
put down roots in [place] for residence
The young couple wanted to put down roots in the countryside before starting a family.
After years of renting flats, Asher finally bought a small house and put down roots.
Many immigrants put down roots in the city's eastern districts during the 1950s.
Vivek never put down roots anywhere — he preferred the freedom of moving from place to place.
- settle
shorter and more neutral — 'settle in a place' lacks the permanence implied by 'put down roots'
- establish oneself
more formal; often used in professional or historical contexts
用法筆記
Focuses on the decision to make a place your long-term or permanent home. Contrast with the idiom sense, which emphasises social integration and community belonging.