lay to rest

USAGE SUMMARY

"lay to rest" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to bury or put to final rest. It is often used to refer to the final burial of a deceased person, but it can also be used in other contexts to mean to put an end to something or to resolve a situation. Example: After the funeral, the family gathered at the cemetery to lay their beloved grandfather to rest. Example: The company finally laid to rest the long-standing conflict between employees and management by reaching a fair compromise.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Would it really lay to rest our concerns?

The Economist

The wreath will lay to rest that institutional antisemitism.

The Guardian - Opinion

If a first, unpublicized marriage might lay to rest one contentious issue, there are others.

The New York Times

Governor Brewer said the changes should lay to rest concerns of opponents.

The New York Times

Remove from the heat and lay to rest for 10 minutes in a warm place.

Independent

This would lay to rest any danger that the federal government will ever disarm the people.

The New York Times

Erasmus signs up for the voyage to lay to rest the ghost of the past.

The New York Times - Books

Now, once and for all, I am going to lay to rest these rumors".

The New York Times

We shall lay to rest our undying dead: I shall bury you, you will bury me.

The New Yorker

Still, the studies could help lay to rest much of the controversy.

The New York Times

The role might even lay to rest the uneasy ghost of Frank Pembleton.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lay to rest" when you want to convey a sense of finality, whether it's burying a deceased person or ending a conflict or issue.

Common error

Avoid using "lay to rest" in contexts where a more direct verb like "end" or "resolve" would be clearer and more appropriate, especially when not referring to death or finality.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lay to rest" is as a verb phrase, often used in the passive voice (e.g., "was laid to rest"). It describes the action of burying someone or figuratively ending something, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lay to rest" is a commonly used idiomatic verb phrase that means to bury someone or to put an end to something. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media, as well as in more formal business and academic contexts. While it can be used both literally and figuratively, it's important to ensure that the context aligns with the sense of finality the phrase conveys. Alternatives like ""put to rest"", ""resolve"", or ""end"" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put to rest

Replaces "lay" with "put", maintaining the core meaning of ending or resolving something.

bury

A more literal alternative, especially when referring to burial of the deceased.

inter

A more formal synonym for bury, specifically referring to placing a body in a grave or tomb.

resolve

Shifts the focus to resolving a problem or issue, rather than a physical burial.

settle

Similar to resolve, but often implies a more formal or official ending.

end

A simple and direct alternative, suitable for many contexts where "lay to rest" is used figuratively.

quash

Implies forcefully suppressing or rejecting something, like a rumor or rebellion.

disprove

Specifically refers to proving something to be false.

debunk

To expose the falseness of something.

dismiss

To treat something as unworthy of serious consideration.

FAQs

What does "lay to rest" mean?

The phrase "lay to rest" primarily means to bury a deceased person. Figuratively, it means to end something definitively, such as a rumor or a problem.

How can I use "lay to rest" in a sentence?

You can say, "The family gathered to "lay to rest" their beloved grandmother", or "The investigation "laid to rest" any doubts about his innocence".

What's a good alternative for "lay to rest" when not referring to burial?

Alternatives include "put to rest", "resolve", "settle", or "end", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "laid to rest" or "lay to rest"?

"Laid to rest" is the past tense and past participle form, used when the action has already occurred. "Lay to rest" is the infinitive form. For example, "They "laid to rest" their father yesterday" versus "It's time to "lay to rest" these old grievances".