put past

English

Verb

put past (third-person singular simple present puts past, present participle putting past, simple past and past participle put past)

1. (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative, ditransitive) To conclude that (someone) would not do something.

   Would he go so far as to call the police? I wouldn't put it past him.

Usage notes

This verb is rare outside of negative constructions and the idioms put one past or put it past, where it and one may refer to something described in context or may be placeholders.