put past

not put (something) past (one)

1. To believe one is capable of doing something unsavory, immoral, illicit, selfish, etc. He's a very charming guy, but I wouldn't put it past him to stab me in the back if it meant advancing his career. I should know by now not to put such vile treachery past the likes of him.
2. To be unable to swindle, fool, or deceive one. My grandmother might be 85, but you still can't put a thing past her! That sleazy used car salesman couldn't put his bogus little scam past me.
See also: not, past, put

put (something) past (someone)

To believe that someone is incapable or unwilling to engage in some sort of extreme behavior or action. Usually used in negative constructions. A: "Do you think Joe stole the money?" B: "Honestly, I wouldn't put it past him. He has no conscience." You're more naïve than I thought if you would put unauthorized spying on private citizens past the government.
See also: past, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put past

v.
To believe some action, especially an extreme action, to be of a kind that someone would not do. Often used negatively: I wouldn't put it past those kids to try to climb to the top of the flagpole. Would you put murder past these thugs?
See also: past, put
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • not put (something) past (one)
  • not put it past someone
  • not put something past someone
  • keep (one's) hands clean
  • someone's hands are clean
  • (one's) hands are clean
  • it's no crime to (do something)
  • don't speak ill of the dead
  • never speak ill of the dead
  • bad bunch
References in periodicals archive
The 23-year-old bailed out on Partick Thistle to join the Highlanders and is eager to put past failures behind him.
Blair back in big time with County deal
It took until the 75th minute for Pascal Gross to grab the goal as he put past Martin Dubravka.
Brighton 1-1 Newcastle - where it all went wrong for the Magpies down on the South Coast; Ayoze Perez opened the scoring but Newcastle United could not hold out for all three points as Brighton levelled
The post Unite Cyprus calls on Cypriots to put past demons behind them appeared first on Cyprus Mail .
Unite Cyprus calls on Cypriots to put past demons behind them
Bournemouth shipped four against United on top of the five Tottenham put past them on Boxing Day and Howe accpets they need to be much better defensively.
Howe long will your awful run last, Eddie?
WEST HAM striker Marko Arnautovic says the Hammers should have scored more than the four they put past Burnley.
Klopp strop at Kop draw; I'd have got a hat-trick says Klopp
Blues hoped to receive that cash boost this summer amid their ongoing Financial Fair Play concerns but it now looks as though they will be made to wait, with Butland expected to stay put past today's deadline.
Blues set to miss out on Butland windfall - agent
JACK BUTLAND says he ENJOYS facing the Premier League's deadliest strikeforce - despite having seven put past him last time.
'IT'S A CHALLENGE'
"He's a class act no denying the fact." Mark Foster ENTERTAINMENT: Cheryl has seemingly put past behind her after Liam Payne revealed she'd reverted to her maiden name.
TOON TRENDS
KUALA LUMPUR (CyHAN)- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on his fellow compatriots to "put past divisions behind" in the new year message on Thursday, after a year in which he held on to his position despite internal pressure and led his country in playing a prominent role on regional integration.
Malaysian PM calls for unity in new year message
By this point it was a case of how many goals Bosnia would put past their opponents, and just after the hour Dzeko sealed his hat-trick, effectively a carbon copy of the first two, after another Lulic setup.
Dzeko bags a hat-trick; BOSNIA............................3 ANDORRA........................0
"The Real Housewives of Melbourne'' (9 p.m., BRAVO) The saucy Aussie ladies try to put past dramas behind them in the Season 2 premiere.
TV Top 5
This possibility should not be put past lawmakers who have awarded themselves a full second term in office with very little to show for their five years in power thus far.
Into the void
ORPHAN Film4, 11.10pm Kate and John Coleman, a couple who have seemingly put past troubles in their marriage behind them, decide to adopt a nine-year-old Russian girl from an orphanage.
TV CHOICE
But Suarez has put past controversies firmly behind him to light up English football and become only the second Liverpool player to be crowned Player of the Year in the Premier League era.
Luis Suarez Named PFA Player of Year
Mark Masters, CEO of TRN Companies, said: "We are pleased to 'turn the page' with the new owners of Westwood One and have put past issues behind us.
TRN, Cumulus announce Westwood One settlement