put oneself in someone’s place —(also: put oneself in someone’s shoes) imagine oneself to be in smb.’s position or predicament:
- Maybe I am overreacting, but put yourself in my place. How should I explain all this to my manager?
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase put someone in his place—
1. scold a person, usually for rude remark or bad behavior:
- He is being so mean to the customers. Someone needs to put him in his place!
2. remind smb. in an angry way that he is not as important as he thinks he is:
- Somebody please put him in his place. As a scientist, I hate it when he speaks for “all scientists.”
take the place of someone—replace or supersede a person:
- Emile owed his education to an aunt, a saintly woman who took the place of his deceased mother.
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase swap places with someone—exchange seats, jobs, etc. with another person:
- In France last year there was an inmate who swapped places with his twin and escaped.