put someone away

put away

1. Literally, to put something into a designated place. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "away." Kids, please put your toys away before dinner. I decided to put away all the decorations right after the party so I didn't have to do it the next day.
2. To stop focusing on or paying attention to something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "away." Put your worries away for the moment and just enjoy your time at the beach. You have to put away your stage fright and focus on playing the music.
3. To eat or drink the entirety of something, especially quickly or easily. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "away." Wow, that kid sure can put away his food! I can usually put away a bottle of wine by myself. I expect them to put that pizza away in five minutes.
4. slang To kill someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "away." The man said he'd put me away if I told anyone that I'd seen him burying the money in the field. The prosecutor is worried that they'll put away the witnesses before they can testify.
5. To bury someone. Because the ground is completely frozen, they won't be able to put my father away for at least another month.
6. To send someone to a prison or mental institution. They put the notorious gangster away for 40 years, with no chance of parole. Because they didn't understand the nature of schizophrenia at the time, my great-grandparents put my granny away when she was a little girl.
See also: away, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put someone away

1. tv. to put someone in prison for a long time. (Underworld.) They put Bart away for fifteen years.
2. tv. to knock someone unconscious. One tap on the head and I put him away.
3. tv. to kill someone. (Underworld.) The gangster threatened to put me away if I told the police.
See also: away, put, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • put away
  • put back
  • put in
  • put in at (some place)
  • put an animal out
  • put aside
  • put (someone or something) on ice
  • put (someone) on ice
  • put on ice
  • put dibs on (something)
References in periodicals archive
Jolly said: "We are still gelling and when we do get it to click we are really going to put someone away.
Someone's going to get a Jolly good beating; RUGBY B'HAM & SOLIHULL 9 HULL IONIANS 20
He said: "We know that in this division, like National One, if you don't put someone away they'll come right back at you.
Rugby Union: Fakatou threat to Bees' sequence; NATIONAL TWO
"This man exposes Michael Jackson but evidence that could have put someone away for murdering two little children has been carelessly lost.
HE'S CLUELESS; EXCLUSIVE Anger as Bashir loses Babes in the Wood murder evidence
The fact is that the term "life" has been undermined in our legal system because no-one is prepared to put someone away for this length of time.
Man Of The People: JAIL TOO SOFT FOR KILLERS