What Does “Put sb up to doing sth” Mean?
“Put sb up to doing sth” means to persuade or encourage someone to do something, often something they might not have done on their own.
Introduction
The phrase “Put sb up to doing sth” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the act of prompting or persuading someone to take a particular action. Usually, it implies that the person was influenced or convinced to do something they might not have considered otherwise. Understanding the “Put sb up to doing sth meaning” helps learners use this phrase correctly in everyday conversations, especially when talking about advice, suggestions, or even mischief. This expression adds a natural and conversational tone to your English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Put sb up to doing sth (put somebody up to doing something)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To persuade or encourage someone to do something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb “put sb up to doing sth” is inseparable. This means you cannot place the object between “put up to.” The structure follows this pattern:
- Put + somebody + up to + verb-ing (doing something)
Example: She put him up to asking for a raise.
How to Use Put sb up to doing sth?
You use “put sb up to doing sth” when you want to say that someone encouraged or persuaded another person to do something. It often suggests that the action might be a little risky, unusual, or something the person might not have done on their own. It is commonly used in informal contexts.
Examples
Imagine your friend convinced you to try a new hobby or prank someone. You could say:
- My brother put me up to trying skydiving last summer.
- She put him up to telling a funny joke at the party.
- They put me up to entering the competition even though I was nervous.
- He was put up to stealing the candy, but he refused.
- Put sb up to doing sth in a sentence: She put me up to asking for extra time on the project.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse this phrasal verb with similar expressions or change its structure incorrectly. For example:
- Incorrect: She put up to me doing the work.
- Correct: She put me up to doing the work.
- Incorrect: He put me to doing the prank.
- Correct: He put me up to doing the prank.
Remember, “put” and “up to” must stay together, and the person (sb) comes right after “put.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Put sb up to doing sth” is similar to “encourage” or “persuade,” but it often implies a bit of mischief or something unusual. Other phrasal verbs like “talk sb into doing sth” or “pressure sb into doing sth” share similar meanings but differ in tone and intensity.
- Talk sb into doing sth: More neutral, gentle persuasion.
- Pressure sb into doing sth: Stronger, negative force or insistence.
- Put sb up to doing sth: Sometimes playful or mischievous encouragement.
Common Collocations
People often use “put sb up to” with actions that involve:
- Doing a prank: Encouraging someone to play a joke.
- Trying something new: Persuading to attempt a new activity.
- Breaking rules: Suggesting an action that might be slightly risky or wrong.
- Asking a question: Encouraging someone to speak up or ask something.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of put sb up to doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “put sb up to doing sth”:
Anna: Did you really ask your boss for a raise?
John: Yeah, my friend put me up to it. He said I deserve it.
Anna: That’s great! Sometimes we need a little push.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence below with the correct form:
She __________ me __________ a surprise party for my sister.
- a) put / to organizing
- b) put me up to / organizing
- c) put up to / organizing
- d) put me to / organize
Answer: b) put me up to / organizing
FAQ
- Q: Is “put sb up to doing sth” formal?
A: No, it is mostly used in casual or informal speech.
- Q: Can it be used with negative actions?
A: Yes, it often implies encouraging someone to do something mischievous or risky.
- Q: Is the phrasal verb separable?
A: No, “put up to” is inseparable. The object must come right after “put.”
- Q: Can I use it with pronouns?
A: Yes, for example, “She put me up to it.”
- Q: What is a synonym for “put sb up to doing sth”?
A: “Encourage sb to do sth” or “talk sb into doing sth” are close synonyms.
