# throw away the key

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/throw-away-the-key
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To never release someone (e.g., from prison).

## Examples

- The judge sentenced him to life and threw away the key.
- The jury found the criminal guilty of such a terrible crime that the judge decided to throw away the key.
- After the defendant was convicted of the heinous act, the court ensured he would remain incarcerated forever by effectively throwing away the key.

## Origin

An ellipsis of the fuller phrase "lock someone up and throw away the key," denoting a permanent state of incarceration. The construction assumes the finality of a lock that can no longer be operated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.