Fig. to squelch someone or something; to veto someone or someone's plans. I hate to put the kibosh on Randy, but he isn't doing what he is supposed to.Your comments put the kibosh on the whole project.
Restrain or check something, as in The rain put the kibosh on our beach party, or The boss put the kibosh on the whole project. The word kibosh has been used in English since the first half of the 1800s and its origin is unknown.