bid adieu

Idioms  

1. Say goodbye, take leave of, as in It's beyond my bedtime, so I bid you all adieu, or I'll be glad to bid adieu to these crutches. French for “goodbye,” adieu literally means “to God” and was part of à dieu vous commant, “I commend you to God.” Adopted into English in the 1300s, it was first recorded in Chaucer's Troilus and Cressida (c. 1385). Today it is considered quite formal, although it also is used humorously.

---

Example Sentences

To bid adieu to a Muppet-themed section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios parks in Florida, some Kermit and Gonzo superfans organized a prom-inspired soiree at one of the area’s restaurants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

I bid adieu to Greg and drove west.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025

What pages should you keep, and which should you bid adieu?

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2025

The Washington men’s crew bid adieu to its longtime conference home Sunday in grand fashion, winning the program’s 41st league title at the Pac-12 men’s rowing championships at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif.

From Seattle Times • May 19, 2024

Muhammad and I have to hustle to catch up with her after we bid adieu to her friends.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali