| Idiom | (to) pull the plug |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to put a stop to a project or initiative, usually because it's not going well; to stop something from moving forward; to discontinue origin: This expression refers to removing a plug to make something stop working — when you pull the plug out of the wall, your appliance doesn't work. In the 19th century, when this term originated, the plug was for a toilet. To flush the toilet, you had to pull out a plug. |
| Example | After losing millions of dollars drilling for oil in Nebraska and finding nothing, the oil company finally pulled the plug on its exploration project. |
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