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put out of misery

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put (one) out of (one's) misery

 

1. Euph. Fig. to kill someone as an act of mercy. Why doesn't the doctor simply put her out of her misery? He took pills to put himself out of his misery.

2. Fig. to end a suspenseful situation for someone. Please, put me out of misery; what happened? I put her out of her misery and told her how the movie ended.

See also: misery, of, out, put

put somebody/something out of their/its misery

1. to kill an animal or person because they are in extreme pain The horse's leg was badly broken, and the kindest thing was to put it out of its misery. Badly wounded himself, he put a gun in his buddy's hand and asked his friend to put him out of his misery.

2. to end someone's worry or something's suffering I thought I'd call her with the test results today and put her out of her misery. Business was so bad, they considered bankruptcy to put the company out of its misery.

See also: misery, of, out, put

put somebody out of their misery

to stop someone worrying, usually by giving them information that they have been waiting for I thought I'd call her with the results today and put her out of her misery.

See also: misery, of, out, put

put something/somebody out of their misery

to kill an animal or person because they are in a lot of pain and you want to end their suffering Both of its back legs were shattered and I figured the kindest thing would be to put it out of its misery with a bullet.

See also: misery, of, out, put