put away

   1. to kill

   Especially of old, diseased, or unwanted pets:

    I have left instructions for Buller to be put away — as painlessly as possible. (G. Greene, 1978 — Buller was a dog)

   To put yourself away is to commit suicide.

   2. obsolete to bury

   From the days when the poor were anxious that a proper burial in hallowed ground should give them as good a chance of resurrection as the better-off might anticipate:

    Some poor comrades undertook to see her put away. (Hartley, 1870)

   3. to confine involuntarily to an institution

   Referring to criminals and those with severe mental illness:

    He was a bit 'tropo'... They put him away in the end. (Simon, 1979)

   4. put (it) away

   to consume (intoxicants)

   Not merely returning the bottle to its rack, and usually to excess:

    ... it was really astounding to see [her] put away the booze. (Styron, 1976)

    ... the walking wounded of the day watch really put it away. (Wambaugh, 1983)