Grammar fix
put up to
encourage someone to do something (often wrong)
to persuade or encourage someone to do something, especially something they probably shouldn’t do
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Who put you up to playing that prank on your teacher?
In my opinion, peer pressure can be dangerous because friends might put you up to making bad decisions.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: His mates put him up to do it.
Say: His mates put him up to it. / ...put him up to doing it.
'Put someone up to' + noun or '-ing' (or just 'it') — not a to-infinitive.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Put up to' is the natural way to say someone egged another on; 'incite to commit' is legalistic.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
put + someone + up to
- him up to it
- you up to this
- up to no good
- up to doing it