put an animal down

put down

1. verb Literally, to place someone or something down on or into something. (In usages 1–12, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "down.") You can put down those groceries on the table, thanks. I put the baby down in her playpen and then went to answer the phone.
2. verb To insult, mock, belittle, or disparage one. The boss is always putting me down in front of everyone in the office. It's really making my life miserable. Tommy, don't put your brother down like that—if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything.
3. verb To kill one. The marshal told the fugitive that he would put him down if he reached for his gun.
4. verb To euthanize an animal. We knew our poor dog was suffering, so we decided it was time to put her down.
5. verb To write something down. I know he put his phone number down somewhere. Let's put down some of these ideas on the whiteboard while we're brainstorming.
6. verb To assign someone a particular task or thing. No, no, I put Holly down to bring in napkins. You were supposed to pick up the cupcakes!
7. verb To note one's commitment to do, give, or receive something. Oh, I'd be happy to donate! Please put me down for $20. A: "When do you guys want to work at the fair?" B: "Put us down for the four o'clock shift."
8. verb To pay some partial amount of money for an item that one will fully pay for over time or at a later time. How quickly you pay off the loan depends on much can you put down each month? I'll hold it for you if you can put $500 down right now.
9. verb To deem something to be the cause of something else. We put David's erratic behavior down to sleep deprivation.
10. verb To quash, eliminate, or put an end to something, especially through force or violence. They sent thousands of soldiers to put down the upstart rebellion. Everyone believes the company hired armed thugs to come put the employee strike down by force.
11. verb To put a young child in a particular place (such as a bed or crib) so they can sleep. The baby's getting cranky—it's time to put her down for her nap. Tom is upstairs putting down the kids for the night.
12. verb To land an aircraft. The pilot sure put the plane down smoothly. I'm just looking for a good place to put down the hot-air balloon.
13. verb Of an aircraft or its pilot, to land. When are we supposed to put down in Chicago?
14. verb To stop engaging with some piece of media or technology that requires the use of one's hands. I really wish you would put the video games down and go outside for a while. The book was so thrilling that I just couldn't put it down. We have a hard time getting our kids to put down their phones.
15. verb To allow someone to disembark from a vehicle. You can put me down at the front gate. I don't mind walking the rest of the way to the manor. The shuttle put down its passengers at the airport.
16. verb To reduce the cost of something. The government has been offering subsidies to put down the price of grain for farmers, millers, and bakers. The tech company has really focused on putting the cost down for their newest product to make it affordable to a wider range of consumers.
17. noun A mocking, insulting, and disparaging comment or remark. The phrase is usually hyphenated when used as a noun. Enough with the put-downs, Tommy—if you don't have anything nice to say about your brother's performance, don't say anything at all. All the little put-downs my boss makes have worn my self-confidence away to nothing.
See also: down, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put an animal down

Euph. to take the life of an animal mercifully. We put down our old dog last year. It's kind to put fatally ill animals down.
See also: animal, down, put
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • champ down on (someone or something)
  • bear down
  • blaze down
  • blaze down on (someone or something)
  • chomp down on (someone or something)
  • be down to (do something)
  • be down to something
  • clamp down
  • clamp down on
  • clamp down on (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
It was a successful rescue and even though we had to put an animal down, if we tried anything else it would have led to more stress and suffering for it.
Drama near Browhouses as three porpoises are stranded
Meanwhile Andre Silva, a representative of the political party PAN (People, Animals, Nature) points out that it is actually more expensive to put an animal down and dispose of it than it is to surgically sterilise it.
Led a stray by killing ban; RECORD PETS
'The first time I had to put an animal down I got in the van and cried and cried,' says Paige.
'I come home covered in all sorts of animal poo - but I have the best job in the world!' Whether she's rescuing a swan, untangling a seal from bikini bottoms, or helping a baby deer with a broken leg, RSPCA officer Paige Burnham, 25, is in her element g,
Even during tough times when you have to put an animal down, pet owners are so grateful for the care you've given throughout the years.
Ask animal doctor Andrea
You'd put an animal down. When I get to that stage, I will be taking the drugs."
Cameras filmed last months of brave Jayne
Rockstroh acknowledged the need to satisfy board members and advocates who want more public access to all aspects of shelter animal care, including the decision to put an animal down. The board adopted a recommendation that calls for the distribution of "intent to euthanize" notices to interested parties.
Euthanasia issue tops shelter list
Tim said: 'There are times when you have to put an animal down and it's hard.
Canine-nine-nine
``I realised I couldn't be a vet because there was no way I could put an animal down.I'm just too soft.''
TV review: Jenny wants to be judged on the future
"I realised I couldn't be a vet as there was no way I could put an animal down. I'm too soft.
Judge Jenny by her success
``I woke up one morning and real- is ed I couldn't be a vet because there was no way I could put an animal down,'' she says.
Jenny proves she's still a woman of substance; Will Marlow talks to Jenny Seagrove about acting and her life with Liverpool impresario Bill Kenwright
He says: "We never put an animal down unless there is nothing more that can be done for it.
WEEKEND: PET SOS: The Flanders care; THE NEW FACE ANSWERING YOUR ANIMAL PROBLEMS GREW UP IN BRUGES AND TRAINED AS A VET IN BRUSSELS
Some do not have the heart to put an animal down, and would rather leave that up to someone else.
The small animal auction
Such a hit can put an animal down quickly if the bullet hits the spine directly or transmits a lot of shock to it.
Precision shot placement: powerful cartridges and premium bullets are no substitute for hitting the right spot
After all, in the article Larry even points out that a razor-sharp broadhead through both lungs is what's needed to put an animal down. Bowhunter Education volunteers all over the country donate their time to teach ethics in shot selection.
Between Bowhunters
Jessi tweeted: "Asked my vet what the hardest part was about his job and he said when he has to put an animal down, 90 per cent of owners don't actually want to be in the room when he injects them.
Weallneed someone to hold us close as we take our last breath. It's the same for animals; SPECIAL HOSPICE GIVES COMFORT TO DYING PETS Caring Alexis is there to give sick and abandoned dogs, cats and farm animals love and affection as they come to the end of their lives