be put out to pasture
Meaning: To be retired or set aside as no longer useful.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “After thirty years, the old printer was finally put out to pasture.”
Category: Animals
Origin: Old farm horses were turned out into a field to live out their days. The figurative use is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Turkish: Pabucu dama atılmak — literally: To have one's shoe thrown on the roof
More idioms — Animals
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
- Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift — I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
More English idioms
- an uphill battle — A long, difficult struggle.
- The last straw that broke the camel's back — The final small burden that causes a total collapse.
- To have a frog in your throat — To have difficulty speaking due to hoarseness.
- It's raining cats and dogs — It's raining extremely heavily.
- To have butterflies in your stomach — To feel nervous excitement.
- Bob's your uncle — And there you have it; simple as that.
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