put up to
To encourage or trick (someone) to perform (an action which is foolish or wrong).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Did your brother put you up to this prank?”
“I know you would never steal that sign unless someone put you up to it.”
“The detective suspected that the younger boy had not acted alone, but rather that his older brother had put him up to the reckless act.”
- 01
lipstick on a pig
To make superficial or cosmetic changes to something in a doomed attempt to disguise its fundamental flaws.
- 02
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.
- 03
put a band-aid on a bullet wound
To inadequately treat a serious situation.
- 04
put a blanket over
Make (something) seem less serious.
- 05
put a bug in someone's ear
To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.
- 06
put a damper on
To stop people from enjoying an activity.
- 07
put a foot wrong
To make a mistake.
- 08
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.
Last updated August 10, 2026