put out to pasture


put (someone or something) out to pasture

1. Literally, to retire an animal from working by allowing it roam in a field or pasture. This horse has been my constant companion for the last 15 years on the ranch, but now I think it's about time to put him out to pasture. You ought to put that old donkey out to pasture, don't you think?2. By extension, to force, coerce, or pressure someone into retiring from their work. The CEO shaped the company into what it is today, but she's getting on in years and the board of directors has decided to put her out to pasture.3. By extension to Definition 1, to retire a piece of equipment from use or replace it with something newer. I got through my entire graduate degree on this clunky old laptop, but I think it's finally time to put it out to pasture.See also: out, pasture, put

put someone out to pasture

Fig. to retire someone. (Based on put a horse out to pasture.) Please don't put me out to pasture. I have lots of good years left. This vice president has reached retirement age. It's time to put him out to pasture.See also: out, pasture, put

put out to pasture

1. To herd (grazing animals) into pasturable land.2. Informal To retire or compel to retire from work or a full workload.See also: out, pasture, put

put out to grass/pasture, to be

To be retired from active duty; to rusticate. This term, which refers to animals that are turned out to a meadow or range, particularly a horse that is too old to work, was transferred to human beings as early as the sixteenth century. John Heywood used it in his 1546 proverb collection: “He turnde hir out at doores to grasse on the playne.” See also: grass, out, put