put it past

English

Etymology

From put past with placeholder it.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

put it past (third-person singular simple present puts it past, present participle putting it past, simple past and past participle put it past)

1. (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) To consider it beyond what someone is capable of doing.

   I wouldn't put it past him to spread malicious gossip about you.

   • 2007, David Thewlis, The Late Hector Kipling, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN, page 304:

     Since, as I mentioned, my arse is intact, I meditate first upon the pain in my balls. Jesus Harold Christ! I wonder if Monger's got some morphine kicking about. I wouldn't put it past him.