IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchMettre la clé sous la porte
Meaning: To shut up shop; to go out of business.
Literally: To put the key under the door
Example: “Après quarante ans, la quincaillerie du village a mis la clé sous la porte.” — After forty years, the village hardware store has shut up shop.
English equivalent: To shut up shop
Equivalents in other languages
English: shut up shop
Origin: A tenant leaving without settling with the landlord slid the key back under the door and disappeared overnight. The phrase keeps that undertone of a departure that was neither announced nor entirely honorable.
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