Put sth past sb Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Put sth past sb” Mean?

“Put something past somebody” means to believe that someone is capable or not capable of doing something, usually something bad or surprising.

Introduction

The phrase “Put sth past sb” is a common English phrasal verb used to express doubt or confidence about someone’s ability or behavior. When you say you don’t put something past someone, it means you think they could do something unexpected or negative. Understanding the Put sth past sb meaning helps you interpret conversations where people talk about trust, suspicion, or surprise regarding others’ actions. This expression is often used in informal speech and writing, making it useful for daily English communication.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Put something past somebody
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To believe someone is capable of doing something (usually bad or surprising)

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Put sth past sb” is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place the object between “put” and “past,” or after “past.” The structure is:

• Put + something + past + somebody
• Put + past + somebody + something

Examples:

• I don’t put cheating past him.
• I don’t put it past him to cheat.

How to Use Put sth past sb?

This phrase is used to express doubt or belief about someone’s behavior. Often, it relates to negative or surprising actions. Use it when you want to say whether you think someone could or couldn’t do something.

Commonly, it appears in negative forms like “don’t put it past him” or “wouldn’t put it past her,” implying you believe the person might do that thing. It can also be used positively but less often.

Examples

Imagine a situation where you suspect a friend might tell a secret. You could say:

• I wouldn’t put it past Sarah to tell everyone about the surprise party.
• He’s very honest, so I don’t put it past him to keep the promise.
• Do you put it past him to lie about where he was?
• She’s been late before, so I wouldn’t put it past her to arrive late again.
• I don’t put it past the team to win the championship this year.

These examples show how to use Put sth past sb in a sentence naturally.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse this phrase with others or use it incorrectly. Let’s look at some common errors.

• Incorrect: I put it past him to do well on the test.
  Correct: I don’t put it past him to do well on the test.
• Incorrect: She put it past me to break the rules.
  Correct: I don’t put it past her to break the rules.

Remember, the phrase is usually used in negative or interrogative forms to express doubt or surprise.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include “suspect,” “believe,” or “expect,” but they are not exact synonyms. “Put sth past sb” specifically focuses on whether someone is capable of a particular action, often negative or surprising.

• Suspect: To think someone might have done something, but less about ability.
• Believe: A general term for thinking something is true, without the nuance of capability.
• Expect: To think something will happen, not necessarily about ability.

Use “put sth past sb” when you want to highlight belief about someone’s potential behavior.

Common Collocations

This phrasal verb often pairs with words related to actions or behaviors, especially negative or surprising ones.

• Cheat – to act dishonestly
• Lie – to tell an untruth
• Steal – to take something without permission
• Forget – to fail to remember
• Break the rules – to disobey rules or laws

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of put sth past sb:

• Put Sth Back
• Put Sth About
• Put Sb Up To Doing Sth
• Put Sth Up
• Put Sth Away

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “Put sth past sb”:

Alice: Do you think Mark would lie about the meeting?

John: I don’t put it past him. He’s lied before.

Alice: That’s disappointing, but at least we know now.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “put it past” or “don’t put it past”:

• I __________ him to forget his keys again. (believe he could)
• She’s very honest, so I __________ her to lie. (think she could)
• Do you __________ them to arrive late? (think they could)
• He’s reliable; I __________ him to cheat. (think he could)

FAQ

• Q: Is “put sth past sb” positive or negative?
  A: It is usually used to express doubt about negative or surprising actions.
• Q: Can I use “put it past someone” in formal writing?
  A: It’s more common in informal or conversational English.
• Q: What does “sth” mean in “put sth past sb”?
  A: “Sth” stands for “something.”
• Q: Can I use this phrase to talk about positive actions?
  A: Yes, but it is less common and usually focuses on surprising or doubtful actions.
• Q: Is this phrase separable?
  A: Yes, you can separate the object from the verb and preposition.