"stay put"

[jctgf]

Hi,
I heard this expression on a movie and I would like to know what it means.
In the context that I heard it, it seemed to mean "do not move until I come back".
There are tens of entries for it on BMC, though, and I am not sure that all of them have the same meaning:
"He argued that consultants were tending to stay put by the mid-1980s because of the much higher start-up....
" Mr Povah should stay put and control the business, and deal with sales contracts ...".
Could you help, please?
I also would like to know if this is a colloquial and polite expression that can be used fearlessly.
Thanks.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by jctgf

Hi,
I heard this expression on a movie and I would like to know what it means.
In the context that I heard it, it seemed to mean "do not move until I come back".

It sure can mean that, JC, so your instincts are probably right.

There are tens of entries for it on BMC, though, and I am not sure that all of them have the same meaning:
"He argued that consultants were tending to stay put by the mid-1980s because of the much higher start-up....
" Mr Povah should stay put and control the business, and deal with sales contracts ...".
Could you help, please?
I also would like to know if this is a colloquial and polite expression that can be used fearlessly.
Thanks.

It means stay at/in one position, stick at one thing/job/task.

I'd say that it's a bit stronger than a normal neutral, like,

"Wait here for a moment",

so you wouldn't want to use it in all situations.