She put her fingers to her mouth.

[99bottles]

She put her fingers to her mouth.

I found that sentence HERE (last line of the page).

Shouldn't it be on her mouth instead? I thought the correct structure is put something on something. I have never heard put something to something. If it is correct, can someone please explain to me why it is to in this case?

 

[5jj]

Here she is not putting her fingers on or over her mouth, She is merely drawing her fingers towards her mouth for the briefest of contact before blowing them away with a kiss.

 

[Tdol]

Your view of the structure is inaccurate- she could have put her fingers in her mouth.

 

[Skrej]

I have never heard put something to something.

It's not uncommon. Here are a few examples.

put the X to the test - idiom meaning to see how well X performs at a task
put the pedal to the metal - idiom meaning to drive as fast as you can. (possibly only AmE?)

He put the gun to his head. (Or the mixed metaphor in the sad but lovely song "He put the bottle to his head and pulled the trigger"
She put the knife to his throat.
She put the question to the committee.
He put the mug to his lips.

 

[99bottles]

It's not uncommon. Here are a few examples.

put the X to the test - idiom meaning to see how well X performs at a task
put the pedal to the metal - idiom meaning to drive as fast as you can. (possibly only AmE?)

He put the gun to his head. (Or the mixed metaphor in the sad but lovely song "He put the bottle to his head and pulled the trigger"
She put the knife to his throat.
She put the question to the committee.
He put the mug to his lips.

Is put her fingers on her mouth wrong?

 

[Tarheel]

No. It's not wrong.

 

[5jj]

In the context of blowing a kiss, to is far mor natural.