A put-up is normally initiated by the guest. He or she may need somewhere to stay because they are on a journey or have things to do in the area, or they may just want to see the host. For example, a parent or close friend of a student who has moved from the home area to study may ask to visit. By inviting themselves they have signalled their willingness to accept whatever conditions they may encounter in the host s home, although they may carry hopes that it will conform to norms of cleanliness and tidiness.

Anticipating our discussion of the visit, which is seen as archetypally involving a female host, and an owner occupied home, the person doing the putting up may be male or female, and in any tenure including licensee (for example, in a hostel) or tenant. Obviously the host must be housed. It is not possible to be put up in a night shelter, nor could someone be visited who lives and works in other people s homes as an agency carer. The put-up further contrasts with the visit in being low on expectations. The self-invited guest must take pot luck ^[1] on what there is to sleep on (from uncarpeted floor or inflatable in the host s one room, to a proper bed in a spare room) sleep in (what type of bedding or none), and whether there is food available.

Even with putting up there...