Place (someone or something) at (some place) verb phrase
To put something or assign someone in a location.
They placed two security guards at my front door, as if they suspected me to escape again.
To confirm that something or someone was present at a specific time and place.
The bloodstain on Mr. Smith's shirt placed him at the scene when the murder took place.
Treat or consider someone or something as the most important person or thing
To put, throw, drop, someone, something, or oneself down heavily and without taking care.
To put something or someone a distance from one position to another.
To appoint someone to a certain task.
It was often said by a photographer when he would like small children to look at the camera and smile before he took a photo.
When the photographer said “watch the birdie”, all of us looked at the camera and smiled.