put up to

put (one) up to (something)

To cause, persuade, or pressure one to do or engage in something considered mischievous, ill considered, or malicious. He was always putting his younger brother up to playing pranks on other people. No one put me up to it—I just really wanted to get a tattoo.

See also: put, to, up

put (something) up to (someone or something)

1. To allow something to be decided by some process. Look, I think the easiest way to solve this is to just put the matter up to a vote.

2. To present something to someone or some group in order to be discussed, considered, decided, etc. The issue was put up to the committee, but they've yet to give us an answer. We'll need to put the proposal up to the board of directors for approval.

See also: put, to, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

put someone up to something

to cause someone to do something; to give someone the idea of doing something. Who put you up to throwing the party? Nobody put me up to it. I thought it up myself.

See also: put, to, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

put (someone) up to

To cause to commit a funny, mischievous, or malicious act: My older brother put me up to making a prank telephone call.

See also: put, to, up

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.