put it past

English

Etymology

From put past with placeholder it.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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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. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see put,‎ it,‎ past.

   He smashed the ball with his left foot and put it past the goalkeeper.

2. (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) To consider it not possible for (someone) (to do something).

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

   I wouldn't put it past her to steal from shops, but I would put it past her to steal from her own mother.

   • 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.