put down to
Chalk up to
To put something down to a cause is to attribute or explain it that way: I put his rudeness down to stress.
The phrase suggests offering an explanation, often one that excuses or accounts for something puzzling or negative.
Chiefly British; Americans more often say chalk it up to.
attribute
Attribute to a cause
cause
Fundamental origin of problem
- contributing factorElement helping cause something
- sourcePoint of origin
- originStarting point or source
- triggerWhat initiates action
catalyst · basis · grounds · motivation · explanation · determinant · driver · influence
ascribe
Attribute to a cause
impute · pin on · account for · link to · put on · lay on · refer to
root cause
Fundamental origin of problem
- contributing factorElement helping cause something
- sourcePoint of origin
- originStarting point or source
trigger · catalyst · basis · grounds · motivation · explanation · determinant · driver · influence · circumstance