put up to
Goad into mischief
To put someone up to something is to encourage or incite them to do it, often something mischievous or wrong: Who put you up to this?
The phrase implies the person wouldn't have acted without outside influence—a friend put up to a prank, a witness put up to lying.
It suggests manipulation or persuasion rather than independent initiative.
- egg onUrge to action
- dareChallenge to act boldly
- goadIncite to action
- instigateCause to begin
- impelDrive to act
stir up trouble · manipulate · pull strings · spur · convince · twist someone's arm · prompt · coax · cajole · suborn · incite · abet · sway · encourage · urge · persuade · lead astray · lead on