to deep-six

8.6

To get rid of something completely, for example by cancelling plans or throwing things away

phrasal verb
/ˈdiːp sɪks/

Informal

: descartar

We had to deep-six those plans after the budget cuts.

Examples

She deep-six the report!
The company chose to deep-six its outdated policies in favor of more modern ones.
When they upgraded the boat, they decided to deep-six all the old equipment.
Don't deep-six that idea just yet!
The committee decided to deep-six the proposal due to its high costs.
After reviewing the project, the manager chose to deep-six it and start anew.
He deep-sixed the old documents that were no longer necessary for the audit.

Synonyms

to dump

vsto deep-six

541 2.6

To drop or throw things away in a careless way

involves deliberate total removal rather than careless disposal

to throw away

vsto deep-six

477 1.8

To get rid of something you do not want, for example by putting it in the bin

stresses absolute removal rather than ordinary household discarding

to throw out

vsto deep-six

202 1.8

To put something in the trash because you do not want it

implies complete cancellation rather than general disposal

to dispose of

vsto deep-six

56 4.1

Deal with and finish a problem or task so it no longer causes trouble

focuses on eliminating concern, not just physically discarding items

to toss out

vsto deep-six

39 2.7

To throw away things you do not want

carries the same basic idea but stresses permanent elimination

to jettison

vsto deep-six

29 7.8

Throw things from a ship or plane to make it lighter

focuses specifically on total disposal rather than weight reduction reasons

to toss away

vsto deep-six

5 2.0

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

emphasizes complete discard rather than mere lack of use

to throw overboard

vsto deep-six

1 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

is the idiom whose origin refers to that same action

to sweep away

vsto deep-six

1 3.9

To destroy or carry something away completely, for example by water

means removal too but often with less emphasis on destruction method

to chuck out

vsto deep-six

1 3.7

To throw away things you do not want

is more forceful, implying complete and definite cancellation

to deep six

vsto deep-six

Informal

1 8.6

To get rid of something permanently

is the same idiom originally tied to complete removal

to give it the deep six

vsto deep-six

Informal

9.9

To throw something away and stop using it

is the shorter idiom that names the same complete removal

Antonyms

to preserve

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

to retain

60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

Surface Forms

deep-six infinitive

deep-sixed past

deep-sixed past participle

deep-sixing present participle

deep-sixes third person singular

Morphology

deep-six = deep + six (opaque) = deep + six

Although the form looks like a simple combination of 'deep' and 'six', the idiomatic meaning 'get rid of completely' is not recoverable from those parts for most learners.

Etymology

Deep-six probably comes from sailors who threw things overboard into deep water, with deep and six pointing to a very deep place and one story says 'six' just meant a large depth. So to deep-six something is to throw it away or 'get rid of' it completely.