Phrase: Put (someone/something) before/over/above (someone/something)

Meaning

• to give more attention to one thing than another, because you think it is more important
• to consider someone or something as being more important than someone or something else

If you put yourself before others, that means you think of yourself as more important than others.

If you put your work before your health, that means you think your work is more important than your health.

You can also use "over" and "above" instead of "before".

• "Put yourself first before others.
• "Put yourself above everything else."
• "Put your health first over your work."

Example Dialogue

A: My wife is upset about me!

B: What's the matter?

A: She said I always put my work before my family and that I'm always busy. 

Example Sentences

• "We can't expect our staff to put their work before their family."

• "The company had been accused of putting profits before safety."

• "Should we put ourselves first before others?"

• "I love helping people and I usually put others before myself."

• "You should put your needs first before others."

• "He couldn't spend quality time with his kids. He puts his work before his family."

• "He puts his family above everything else."

• "It is a tragedy for this country that our president put personal politics above his sacred oath."

• "You should always put yourself first above others."

• "Do you think it's better to put my career over my relationship?"

• "I would never put my work before my family."