Put it past him

Question

Here is a simple dialogue between two students.
woman: You know,we never went over chapter 16 in class.What do you think the odds are that Dr.Bomb will include it on the test? man:He's been long to do things like that.so I would't put it past him.

I don't know what does the man mean.
Will chapter 16 be included in Dr. Bomb's test?
What does "put it past him" mean?
thanks

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Here is a simple dialogue between two students. woman: You know,we never went over chapter 16 in class.What do you ... will include it on the test? man:He's been long to do things like that.so I would't put it past him.[/nq]
Should be "He's long been doing things like that, so . . . "
[nq:1]I don't know what does the man mean. Will chapter 16 be included in Dr. Bomb's test?[/nq]
The man would not be surprised to see it on the test, but neither he nor the woman know for certain that it will be. They will prepare themselves for it, though, just in case.
[nq:1]What does "put it past him" mean?[/nq]
It is a way of saying that one would not be surprised to see, in this case, that Dr Bomb has included questions about chapter 16 on his test. Dr Bomb is capable of doing an unfair things like that because he's done it many times in the past.
A usage example:
A: John never comes to class, but he gets 100% on all the tests. How does he do that?
B: I don't know. Either he's just very smart or he cheats.

A: Hmmm. I don't know if this means anything, but my mother said she sees him check into our family's motel with a different woman every afternoon when he's supposed to be in class. And whenever I see him with his wife, they act as if they are happy little lovebirds.

B: Well, if he cheats on his wife, then I wouldn't put it past him to cheat on these tests (=I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he has cheated on every one of these tests).

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Here is a simple dialogue between two students. woman: You ... do things like that.so I would't put it past him.[/nq]
[nq:1]Should be "He's long been doing things like that, so . . . "[/nq]
Or 'He's been longing to do things like that ...'
Unless it's a misprint for 'He's been known to ...'
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Or 'He's been longing to do things like that ...' Unless it's a misprint for 'He's been known to ...'[/nq]
Ya never know when it comes from an EFL student. I've seen thousands of them look right what they are copying and ***** it up badly. But your suggestions are good. It's also possible that it was written by a non-native speaker EFL teacher. They often write such imaginative prose.

Put it past him

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