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

And it should put to bed the idea that banks and private-capital managers are playing a zero-sum game with each other.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 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

Something from when she was a small tyke, like this, being put to bed.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

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