put to bed

Idioms  

1. Complete something and either set it aside or send it on to the next step, as in We put the magazine to bed at ten, or They said they'd put the whole project to bed at least a month ago. This expression, transferring nighttime retirement to other kinds of completion, was first applied to a newspaper, where it meant “send to press,” that is, start to print. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

The decrease is unlikely to put to bed the row over the steep pricing that also drew rebukes from football's governing body, FIFA.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Several veteran MPs have been mentioned as likely candidates to retire and create a vacancy for the former cabinet minister, but Dowd said it was "tittle tattle" that he wanted to "put to bed".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

My children were eventually put to bed, but my wife stayed up to watch with me for a few hours, her expression stoic.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

With at least a dozen players on board, any fears of coming up empty were put to bed.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

That evening, when the little Poppers had been put to bed, Mr. and Mrs. Popper settled down for a long, quiet evening.

From "Mr. Popper's Penguins" by Florence Atwater and Richard Atwater

Related Words

• accomplish
• achieve
• close
• conclude
• determine
• develop
• do
• end
• execute
• finalize
• finish
• halt
• perform
• realize
• settle
• wrap up