ENGLISH
REFERENCE

put down as

idiom
Meaning

To assume the particularity of someone's character based on very little information.


Examples
SIMPLE

I put him down as a shy person.

CONTEXTUAL

Because he wore a suit to the beach, I put him down as a very serious man.

COMPLEX

Although his initial silence was misinterpreted, most observers put him down as arrogant until they finally heard him speak.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    not to put too fine a point on it

    Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.

  2. 02

    put a band-aid on a bullet wound

    To inadequately treat a serious situation.

  3. 03

    put a blanket over

    Make (something) seem less serious.

  4. 04

    put a bug in someone's ear

    To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.

  5. 05

    put a damper on

    To stop people from enjoying an activity.

  6. 06

    put a foot wrong

    To make a mistake.

  7. 07

    put a gun to someone's head

    To compel someone (to do something); to create a situation in which someone has no alternative course of action.

  8. 08

    put a hat on a hat

    To do something unnecessary, to go over the top

Last updated April 17, 2026