put to bed

You help someone get ready for sleep and settle them in their bed.

• I put the baby to bed.
• Who put the children to bed last night?
• She puts her son to bed after reading him a story.

How to use it: put someone to bed (He put his daughter to bed at eight.)

Common phrases: put someone to bed, put baby to bed

You make victory certain, so the other side has little chance of winning.

• That goal put the match to bed.
• They put the game to bed with two late goals.
• Can another score put this contest to bed?

How to use it: put something to bed (A third goal put the game to bed.)

Similar words: seal, clinch

Common phrases: put something to bed, put it to bed

You remove a worry, doubt, or false belief so people stop thinking it might be true.

• The results put our doubts to bed.
• She put those rumors to bed by showing us the letter.
• Will this report finally put their fears to bed?

How to use it: put something to bed (This evidence should put your worries to bed.)

Similar words: dispel, lay to rest

Common phrases: put doubts to bed, put fears to bed, put rumors to bed

You finish preparing a newspaper or similar publication so it can be printed.

• We put the newspaper to bed at midnight.
• The editor put the final edition to bed.
• Have you put tomorrow’s issue to bed yet?

How to use it: put something to bed (They put the magazine to bed on Friday.)

Similar words: finalize

Common phrases: put something to bed, put it to bed