put paid to (something)

put paid to (something)

To consider something finished or ended; to put something to rest or no longer give it any attention. After a lengthy debate, we finally put paid to the decision about who would take over the estate. Email has almost completely put paid to the act of sending handwritten letters anymore.See also: paid, put

put paid to something

to consider something closed or completed; to mark or indicate that something is no longer important or pending. (As if one were stamping a bill "paid".) At last, we were able to put paid to the matter of who is to manage the accounts.See also: paid, put

put paid to

Finish off, end, as in We'd best put paid to this issue. [Early 1900s] See also: paid, put

put paid to something

mainly BRITISHCOMMON If an event puts paid to someone's hopes, chances, or plans, it completely ends or destroys them. Great Britain's poor performance here last night has put paid to their chances of reaching the Olympic finals. The past week has probably put paid to hopes that share prices in New York and London would rise strongly for the rest of the year.See also: paid, put, something

put paid to

stop abruptly; destroy. informalSee also: paid, put

put ˈpaid to something

(informal) make it impossible for something to happen or continue: Her poor exam results have put paid to any chance she had of getting into medical school.See also: paid, put, something

put paid to

Chiefly British To finish off; put to rest: "We've given up saying we only kill to eat; Kraft dinner and freeze-dried food have put paid to that one" (Margaret Atwood).See also: paid, put