Lead up to

lead up to & leads up to leading up to led up to led up to

1. lead up to p.v. When one or more actions, events, or situations lead up to a final action, event, or situation, they precede and cause or partially cause it.

Several minor battles led up to a full-scale war. The detective said, "Jake didn't shoot Hank for no reason — something led up to it."

2. lead up to p.v. When you lead up to something when you are speaking or writ­ing, you gradually move toward an important point by saying or writing information that will support that point.

In his speech, the President didn't immediately announce that he would run for a second term; he led up to it by recalling the accomplishments of his first term.

I've been listening to you talk for thirty minutes. What's your point? What are you leading up to?

put up to

put up to & puts up to putting up to put up to put up to

1. put... up to p.v. When you persuade or pressure people to do something that is illegal, dangerous, foolish, or unwise, you put them up to it.

/ didn't think it was a good idea to demand a raise, but my wife put me up to it.

When Jake was arrested for shooting Hank, he said Raquel had put him up to it by threatening to tell the police about his other crimes.