put down to

put down to
to say that something is the cause of; to attribute

James gave him a sharp look, but the architect appeared unconscious, and he put the answer down to mishearing. (J. Galsworthy)

When lunch time came and he realized with a shock that he had not succeeded for five minutes together in banishing the image of that small dark head, he had put it down to temporary derangement. (J. Wain)


Idioms and examples. 2014.

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  • put down as — ˌput ˈdown as [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they put down as he/she/it puts down as present participle putting down as past tense put down as …   Useful english dictionary

  • put down — [v1] write into record enter, inscribe, jot down, log, record, set down, take down, transcribe, write down; concept 79 Ant. erase, extract put down [v2] subdue annihilate, crush, defeat, dismiss, extinguish, quash*, quell, reject, repress,… …   New thesaurus

  • put-down — put downs also put down N COUNT A put down is something that you say or do to criticize someone or make them appear foolish. [INFORMAL] I see the term as a put down of women... She was getting very sick of Mick s put downs …   English dictionary

  • put-down — put′ down or put′down n. 1) a landing of an aircraft 2) inf a disparaging or snubbing remark • Etymology: 1960–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • put down — index cast (register), defeat, demean (make lower), derogate, dispatch (put to death), enter (record …   Law dictionary

  • put-down — n [C usually singular] something you say that is intended to make someone feel stupid or unimportant = ↑snub ▪ She was tired of his put downs …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • put down — ► put down 1) suppress (a rebellion, coup, or riot) by force. 2) kill (a sick, old, or injured animal). 3) pay (a sum) as a deposit. 4) informal humiliate by public criticism. Main Entry: ↑put …   English terms dictionary

  • put down to — ► put down to attribute (something) to. Main Entry: ↑put …   English terms dictionary

  • put-down — [n] nasty commentary cut*, dig*, disparagement, gibe*, humiliation, indignity, insult, jibe*, knock*, pan*, rebuff, sarcasm, slight, sneer*, snub, suppression; concepts 54,278 Ant. flattery, praise …   New thesaurus

  • put-down — ► NOUN informal ▪ a humiliating or critical remark …   English terms dictionary

  • put-down — ☆ put down [poot′doun΄ ] n. Slang a belittling remark or crushing retort …   English World dictionary

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