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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
put to sleep
0 The vet decided to put the ill dog to sleep. ( He decided to euthanize the dog) 02 br
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00 It was almost midnight so I put my kids to sleep. ( He tucked them in, didn't kill them!) 02 br
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00 The man found out his wife was cheating on him and put his wife and the kids to sleep ( He killed them) 02 br
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00 From my understanding, put to sleep has two very different meanings. Am I right? Learners must be 02 br
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00 very careful when using this phrase. Thanks in advance! 0-
02 br
00 It was almost midnight so I put my kids to sleep. ( He tucked them in, didn't kill them!) 02 br
02 br
00 The man found out his wife was cheating on him and put his wife and the kids to sleep ( He killed them) 02 br
02 br
00 From my understanding, put to sleep has two very different meanings. Am I right? Learners must be 02 br
02 br
00 very careful when using this phrase. Thanks in advance! 0-
Top answer
0 I'm not familiar with the usage in the third sentence. 02 br 00 CJ 0-
- 0 I'm not familiar with the usage in the third sentence.
- 02 br 00 CJ 0-
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6 Answers
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0 I'm not familiar with the usage in the third sentence. For me, putting an animal to sleep refers to euthanasia, and putting a human being to sleep is to be taken as putting them in bed. 02 br
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0 I'd say it's very unnatural to apply the first meaning to humans, unless the author is trying to shock us with some kind of sick point. It's a euphamism for a socially acceptable but painful act. Murder isn't socially acceptable (in most societies.) 0-
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00 When 01 i 00 ill 02 i 00 means "sick", it should not be used to modify 01 font 00 a noun 02 font 00 : 01 i 00 The vet decided to put
01 cite 10 New2grammar 12 cite 10 The vet decided to put the ill dog to sleep. 12 br10 Hi N2G 02 br
12 blockquote
00 When 01 i 00 ill 02 i 00 means "sick", it should not be used to modify 01 font 00 a noun 02 font 00 : 01 i 00 The vet decided to put
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0 Funnily enough there is another phrase with the same double meaning 02 br
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00 'to put down' (animals only) - to euthanase 02 br
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00 'to put down' (babies) - to get them to sleep in their crib/cot/bed. 02 br
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00 In normal useage, you don't ever use put down or put to sleep to mean kill humans. Perhaps if you were an author trying to
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00 'to put down' (animals only) - to euthanase 02 br
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00 'to put down' (babies) - to get them to sleep in their crib/cot/bed. 02 br
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00 In normal useage, you don't ever use put down or put to sleep to mean kill humans. Perhaps if you were an author trying to
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0 As you probably know, euthanasia for humans is a current topic of discussion among people involved in "medical ethics," and it's been practiced to some extent. 0-
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