All related terms of 'put someone on'

to gain a victory or advantage over someone

to put someone in a difficult situation which they cannot avoid , for example by making them answer awkward questions

to try to force someone to do what you want

to ask someone for money

if you say that something such as an experience or a way of dressing has put years on someone, you mean that it has made them look or feel much older

to think someone is extremely good , talented or perfect

to tell a person in authority that someone has done something wrong or illegal

to apply hypnotic or mystical influence to a person

to use pressure or threats to make someone do what you want

to threaten someone and try to scare them into doing what you want

to cause someone to become well-known or important

If someone is on the back foot , or if something puts them on the back foot , they feel threatened and act defensively.