Cool MateDismiss vs Put him out to pasture
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Put him out to pasture
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Dismiss
| Dismiss | Put him out to pasture | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pʊt hɪm aʊt tə ˈpɑːstʃə//🇺🇸 //pʊt hɪm aʊt tə ˈpæstʃɚ// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | To stop someone from working, often because they are old or no longer useful. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | After decades of service, they decided to put him out to pasture. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | put someone out to pasture, put to pasture, out to pasture, no longer useful, retired from work |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | 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. |
| Usage notes | Use 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Put him out to pasture
What's the difference between Dismiss and Put him out to pasture?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Put him out to pasture: To stop someone from working, often because they are old or no longer useful.
Which is more common: Dismiss and Put him out to pasture?
Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Put him out to pasture: After decades of service, they decided to put him out to pasture.
Can I use Dismiss and Put him out to pasture interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and Put him out to pasture 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.