Is there an idiom about how humanely killing something is better than letting it live in pain?

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The thing in question can be a wounded animal or a dysfunctional relationship. In mild sense, it can be an object or idea that requires a lot of investment for it, and when it turns out that it not working you want to cut it down to avoid further loss.

Is there an idiom, proverb, or common saying that describes this situation?

^{Related: Is there an idiomatic way to say "go to the path of no way out"?}

idiom-request proverbs

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edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

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Ooker

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up vote
2
down vote

favorite

The thing in question can be a wounded animal or a dysfunctional relationship. In mild sense, it can be an object or idea that requires a lot of investment for it, and when it turns out that it not working you want to cut it down to avoid further loss.

Is there an idiom, proverb, or common saying that describes this situation?

^{Related: Is there an idiomatic way to say "go to the path of no way out"?}

idiom-request proverbs

share|improve this question

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

The thing in question can be a wounded animal or a dysfunctional relationship. In mild sense, it can be an object or idea that requires a lot of investment for it, and when it turns out that it not working you want to cut it down to avoid further loss.

Is there an idiom, proverb, or common saying that describes this situation?

^{Related: Is there an idiomatic way to say "go to the path of no way out"?}

idiom-request proverbs

share|improve this question

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

The thing in question can be a wounded animal or a dysfunctional relationship. In mild sense, it can be an object or idea that requires a lot of investment for it, and when it turns out that it not working you want to cut it down to avoid further loss.

Is there an idiom, proverb, or common saying that describes this situation?

^{Related: Is there an idiomatic way to say "go to the path of no way out"?}

idiom-request proverbs

idiom-request proverbs

share|improve this question

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

share|improve this question

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

edited 21 mins ago

Kevin

3,3481018

3,3481018

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

asked 4 hours ago

Ooker

1,02941736

1,02941736

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
10
down vote

You can put the animal out of its misery. It means to euthanize.

I suppose you could say the same of a failing business enterprise, figuratively, and even of a dysfunctional relationship, when speaking with a sort of grim humor, where you're casting the relationship as a badly injured or terminally ill and suffering creature.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
  – Werrf
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
  – Ooker
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
  – James K
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
  – Toby Speight
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

I'd use take it behind the barn and shoot it for putting an early end to something instead of having it drag on.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
10
down vote

You can put the animal out of its misery. It means to euthanize.

I suppose you could say the same of a failing business enterprise, figuratively, and even of a dysfunctional relationship, when speaking with a sort of grim humor, where you're casting the relationship as a badly injured or terminally ill and suffering creature.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
  – Werrf
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
  – Ooker
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
  – James K
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
  – Toby Speight
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
10
down vote

You can put the animal out of its misery. It means to euthanize.

I suppose you could say the same of a failing business enterprise, figuratively, and even of a dysfunctional relationship, when speaking with a sort of grim humor, where you're casting the relationship as a badly injured or terminally ill and suffering creature.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
  – Werrf
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
  – Ooker
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
  – James K
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
  – Toby Speight
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
10
down vote

up vote
10
down vote

You can put the animal out of its misery. It means to euthanize.

I suppose you could say the same of a failing business enterprise, figuratively, and even of a dysfunctional relationship, when speaking with a sort of grim humor, where you're casting the relationship as a badly injured or terminally ill and suffering creature.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

You can put the animal out of its misery. It means to euthanize.

I suppose you could say the same of a failing business enterprise, figuratively, and even of a dysfunctional relationship, when speaking with a sort of grim humor, where you're casting the relationship as a badly injured or terminally ill and suffering creature.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

edited 3 hours ago

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

answered 4 hours ago

Tᴚoɯɐuo

101k672167

101k672167

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
  – Werrf
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
  – Ooker
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
  – James K
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
  – Toby Speight
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
  – Werrf
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
  – Ooker
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
  – James K
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
  – Toby Speight
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

2

2

Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
– Werrf
3 hours ago

Another term could be mercy kill; that one is more often used in reference to a human.
– Werrf
3 hours ago

Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
– Ooker
3 hours ago

Can "the animal" be replaced by the actual object? // I search for "grim humor" and see that it's a synonym of black comedy, but I don't understand much. Can you give an example? // Slightly out of topic, but I see "euthanize" is North AmE only. Is that understandable in other variations?
– Ooker
3 hours ago

Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
– James K
3 hours ago

Euthanise and euthanize are both acceptable in British English, with ...ise being more common. But these words have a range of nuances: The Nazis used "Euthanasia" as a euphemism for mass murder of people with disabilities.
– James K
3 hours ago

1

1

Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
3 hours ago

Yes, you could say It's time to put this relationship out of its misery. Again, only if you're willing to speak of it as if it were a hopelessly injured or terminally ill creature. I'm not advising you for or against, just responding to your question title.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
3 hours ago

1

1

Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
– Toby Speight
2 hours ago

Very similar version you might want to include: end its suffering.
– Toby Speight
2 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

I'd use take it behind the barn and shoot it for putting an early end to something instead of having it drag on.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

I'd use take it behind the barn and shoot it for putting an early end to something instead of having it drag on.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

I'd use take it behind the barn and shoot it for putting an early end to something instead of having it drag on.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I'd use take it behind the barn and shoot it for putting an early end to something instead of having it drag on.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

answered 2 hours ago

Nathan

1011

1011

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

 

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