1 B2 idiomatic informal
To encourage or persuade someone to do something, especially something mischievous or wrong.
"I know someone put you up to this — you would never have thought of it yourself."
separable
put up to
B2 informal separable transitive
To encourage, persuade, or pressure someone into doing something, usually something naughty or wrong.
In plain English
To make someone do something bad, usually by encouraging them secretly or telling them to do it.
What does "put up to" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Almost always implies a negative action. Typically suggests the instigator stays in the background while the other person carries out the act. Common in: 'Who put you up to this?' The object is always a person.
Words that pair with "put up to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
prank idea trick nonsense mischief scheme
How to conjugate "put up to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
put up to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts up to
he/she/it
Past simple
put up to
yesterday
Past participle
put up to
have + pp
-ing form
putting up to
continuous
Hear "put up to" in the wild
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Other ways to say "put up to"
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