put (something) to bed

1. to finish dealing with something.

This is an opportunity for us to put some of these problems to bed.

2. to get a newspaper, magazine, or book ready to be printed.

You put the paper to bed and you're proud of it, but the next morning you find the world has changed while it's been printed.

3. to clean a garden after the plants have died.

It takes about two weeks to put the garden to bed.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of put someone to bed (= to help someone get ready to lie down in bed and sleep)

• put back on the rails
• put back on track
• put back up
• put behind
• put behind someone
• put behind something
• put behind you
• put best foot forward
• put cards on the table
• put down roots
• put down to experience
• put feet up
• put finger on
• put finger on something
• put flesh on
• put flesh on something
• put flesh on the bones of
• put flesh on the bones of something
• put foot down
• put foot in it
• put foot to the floor
• put forth
• put forth something
• put forward
• put forward something