English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
To Put to Bed
The woman has put to bed (West African English).
She has given birth to a baby (Global English).
She has been delivered of a baby (Global English).
I hope we finally put the issue to birth. ✔️
The magazine has been put to bed so it will be in circulation next week. ✔️
You have to put that baby to bed before we can enjoy the movie. ✔️
NOTE
Some online dictionaries now recognise the phrase “put to bed” as a West African variant of being delivered of a baby. However, its known meanings as an English idiom are:
- To successfully deal with something or solve a problem.
- To finalise work on any form of publication so that it is ready for press.
- To get a child ready to sleep.
Note too that people “get delivered of babies”; they don’t “deliver babies”.
GAB
