Put out to pasture
Meaning
To force someone to retire from their job or to discard something no longer considered useful or effective.
Origin
The phrase draws its vivid imagery from the practical world of animal husbandry. For centuries, when a working animal—like a horse or cow—reached the end of its productive life, perhaps too old for the plow or too weak for the herd, it was no longer kept in the active stable or barn. Instead, the animal was literally 'put out to pasture,' released into a field to graze and live out its final days in relative peace, free from further labor. This act of definitive, albeit sometimes forced, retirement for animals evolved into a poignant and often melancholy metaphor for humans, especially older employees or those deemed past their prime, who are compelled to leave their active professional roles and live out their remaining years away from the demands of work.
Examples
- After decades of dedicated service, the CEO was effectively put out to pasture and replaced by a younger, more dynamic leader.
- The company decided it was time to put out to pasture their old, inefficient machinery and invest in new technology.