Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a joke, a hoax.

1899		C. Rook Hooligan Nights 86: A rare put on that seemed to please ole George fine.
1937–84		Partridge DSUE (1984) 940/2: from ca. 1860.
1961		N. Hentoff Jazz Life 18: At the Savoy, I learned, I think, to recognize the ‘put-on’.
1970		Meyer & Ebert Beyond Valley of the Dolls [film script] This whole thing has been a big game. Right? A big put on.
1987		‘Joe Bob Briggs’ Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 143: Initially, I thought that this Joe Bob person had a real put on going.
1992		M. Coleman Fatty 217: ‘He was super-fit, clean-living, good-looking - and it wasn’t a put-on’.
1999		E. Bunker Mr Blue 381: If I acted otherwise, he would suspect some kind of put on.
2001		‘Randy Everhard’ Tattoo of a Naked Lady 10: Back at my room at the God Bless America Truckstop Motel, she showed me that that sweet and innocent show was just a put-on.
2012		(con. 1954) ‘Jack Tunney’ Tomato Can Comeback [ebook] Her eyes moistened up when she got to this part, and it didn’t seem like a put-on.

2. an old female beggar who specializes in putting on a look that makes her look as pitiful as possible.

1909

J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

3. a pretentious person, one who puts on airs.

1909

L.W. Payne Jr ‘Word-List From East Alabama’ in DN III:v 361: put-on, n. A person who puts on [...] ‘He’s a regular put-on.’.

4. pretentiousness.

1970

T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 132: A tone which reflected simultaneous detachment and concern, with no hint of lasciviousness, morbidity or put-on.