put it past
B2 informal inseparable transitive
In simple words
When you say you 'wouldn't put it past' someone, you mean you think they could easily do something bad or surprising.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To believe that someone is capable of doing something bad, dishonest, or surprising (nearly always in the negative form 'wouldn't put it past').
"I wouldn't put it past him to lie about the whole thing just to avoid trouble."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Almost always used in the negative: 'I wouldn't put it past him/her/them.' The positive form is extremely rare. The subject is typically 'I' and the object is a person. Very common in spoken English.
Commonly used with
him her them someone politicians management
Forms
Base
put it past
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts it past
he/she/it
Past simple
put it past
yesterday
Past participle
put it past
have + pp
-ing form
putting it past
continuous
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Synonyms
wouldn't surprise me think capable of believe able to expect of
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