throw away the key en · VERB
Etymology
An ellipsis of lock someone up and throw away the key.
Meanings
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(idiomatic, slang) To never release someone (e.g., from prison).
Let's get these men together in a room and I would suggest feed them bread and water and throw away the key until they come together
1995 November 19, “Senators Pete Domenici and John Breaux Discuss the Shutdown of the Federal Government”, in CBS Face Nation:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| throws away the key | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| throwing away the key | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| thrown away the key | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| threw away the key | Tense=Past | lexicographic |