phrasal verb · neutral

put to bed

UK/pʊt tə ˈbed/US/pʊt tə ˈbɛd/PUT·to·BED

speakingtask2

to finish dealing with something so it is no longer a problem; (literally) to put a child to sleep

Examples

The editor wanted to put the story to bed before the deadline.

They finally put the rumours to bed with an official statement.

Every evening she puts the baby to bed at eight o'clock.

Band 8 sentence

After weeks of speculation, the minister’s press conference finally put the matter to bed.

Collocations

  • put rumours/the issue to bed
  • put a child to bed

Word family

put verbbed noun

Common mistakes

put to sleepput to bed

Say it for a higher band

5end6settle7+put to bed

Synonyms

lay to rest

Easily confused

lay to rest

The new evidence laid the rumours to rest.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In put …

Learn it with its set