Cool MatePut him out to pasture vs Retire
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Put him out to pasture
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Retire
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Retire
| Put him out to pasture | Retire | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //pʊt hɪm aʊt tə ˈpɑːstʃə//🇺🇸 //pʊt hɪm aʊt tə ˈpæstʃɚ// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈtaɪə(r)/","/rɪˈtaɪəz/","/rɪˈtaɪəd/","/rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈtaɪər/","/rɪˈtaɪərz/","/rɪˈtaɪərd/","/rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To stop someone from working, often because they are old or no longer useful. | To stop working after many years, usually because of age. |
| Example | After decades of service, they decided to put him out to pasture. | After working for over thirty years, she decided to retire from her job. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | put someone out to pasture, put to pasture, out to pasture, no longer useful, retired from work | early, recently, officially, be forced to, be obliged to, have to, as, at, from, newly retired, recently retired, be medically retired |
| Antonyms | - | work, engage |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'put out to rest' which implies something different., Used literally instead of as an idiom, leading to confusion., Inaccurately used to describe someone who is still active or useful. | Confused with 'retiree' as the same as 'retire'., Using 'retire' with non-human subjects, like a company or organization., Saying 'retire from' without specifying what job or career. |
| Usage notes | This idiom is often used in a workplace context when someone is retired or let go. It is casual and may not be suitable in very formal discussions. | Commonly used when someone reaches a certain age or financial security. It’s more formal than casual speech; avoid in light-hearted contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Put him out to pasture vs Retire
What's the difference between Put him out to pasture and Retire?
Put him out to pasture: To stop someone from working, often because they are old or no longer useful. Retire: To stop working after many years, usually because of age.
Which is more common: Put him out to pasture and Retire?
Retire is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Put him out to pasture: After decades of service, they decided to put him out to pasture. Retire: After working for over thirty years, she decided to retire from her job.
Can I use Put him out to pasture and Retire interchangeably?
Not always. Put him out to pasture and Retire are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.