put a stop to
To terminate or abolish something.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The teacher had to put a stop to the loud talking.”
“The neighbors complained about the noise, so the landlord decided to put a stop to the late-night parties.”
“The new regulations were designed to put a stop to the unfair practices that had plagued the industry for many years.”
- 01
a short drop and a sudden stop
A fall to one's death by hanging.
- 02
couldn't stop a pig in a passage
To be bow-legged.
- 03
face that would stop a clock
A shockingly unattractive face.
- 04
lipstick on a pig
To make superficial or cosmetic changes to something in a doomed attempt to disguise its fundamental flaws.
- 05
not to put too fine a point on it
Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.
- 06
put a band-aid on a bullet wound
To inadequately treat a serious situation.
- 07
put a blanket over
Make (something) seem less serious.
- 08
put a bug in someone's ear
To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.
Last updated August 10, 2026