put someone down

put down

1. To kill: Criticizing Jim Brady's wife Mohan said, ''Because of all her barking and complaining, she really needs to be put down. A humane shot at a veterinarian's would be an easy way to do it'' (1560+)
2. To criticize adversely and severely; denigrate; dump on, knock: Not that I mean to put down the Old Masters (late-1950s+)