Put paid to

Definitions

• to bring something to an end
  to stop or finish something, often abruptly or decisively

• to settle a debt or obligation
  to make a final payment or arrangement to clear a debt or obligation

Examples of Put paid to

• The heavy rain put paid to our plans for a picnic.

  This idiom means that the rain resulted in our plans for a picnic being canceled and paid for, in this case, the wasted time and money put towards planning the picnic.

• Her decision put paid to any chance of us winning the game.

  This idiom means that her decision caused us to lose the game and resulted in any potential chance of winning being cancelled.

• The news of his retirement put paid to any fear of losing him to another team.

  This idiom means that his retirement eliminated any concern that he would join another team, effectively putting an end to any potential competition.

• The introduction of strict measures put paid to any hopes of reducing the cost of the project.

  This idiom means that the implementation of strict measures led to any hopes of reducing the cost of the project being eliminated, basically putting an end to any chances of lowering the expenses.

• The heavy storm put paid to the plans for the outdoor concert.

  This idiom is used when an event or plan is ended or stopped due to a financial settlement. In this example, the storm likely caused damage to the concert venue or the equipment needed for the concert, resulting in financial losses that led to the cancellation of the event.

• After years of legal battles, the opposing parties finally put paid to their dispute.

  This example shows the idiom being used in a different context. Here, it refers to the settlement or resolution of a dispute through financial means, such as a lawsuit or out-of-court settlement.

• The unexpected financial windfall put paid to my debt problems.

  In this example, the financial settlement has a positive outcome for the person speaking. The unexpected money allows them to settle their debts and bring an end to financial difficulties.

• The expense of running an electric car put paid to my plans to switch to a greener mode of transport.

  This is an example of the idiom being used in a contemporary context. Here, the high cost of running an electric car has prevented the person from following through with their plans to become more environmentally friendly. The expense has put an end to their plans, as they cannot afford both the high cost of running the car and other expenses.

Conclusion

The idiom "put paid to" is used to indicate bringing something to an end or settling a debt or obligation. It is often used to emphasize the finality or decisiveness of the action being described.

Origin of "Put paid to"

The origin of the idiom "put paid to" can be traced back to the 16th century in England. The word "put" means to place or set, while "paid" refers to the settling of a debt. The combination of these words evolved into the idiom "put paid to," which was used to indicate the completion of a financial transaction or the ending of a particular situation.

Over time, the idiom expanded in usage to include the idea of bringing something to an end or finishing a task. It has become a common phrase in the English language to convey the idea of finality or resolution.