to put a lid on

Examples

• All

• Would you put a lid on that stuff?

  Heathers (1988)

• So if the most ruthless regime in the world can't put a lid on this thing, then what other government has a chance?

  Tom Bilyeu

• You might want to put a lid on it.

  Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)

• Look, I want to put a lid on all this.

  Action Jackson (1988)

• I'd just as soon put a lid on the whole thing.

  The Drowning Pool (1975)

• Put a lid on it, will you, Mom?

  Housesitter (1992)

• They want to put a lid on it, so here I am.

  The Predator (2018)

• We've got to put a lid on him.

  Black Sheep (1996)

• The Romney campaign would make a big improvement by simply putting a lid on the "Obama is a nice guy" garbage.

  Blog text (31)

• Ultimately, the only way to put a lid on costs is to fix capacity, run it at 100% utilization, ration, and/or make people wait longer like in Canada or the UK.

  Blog text (1)

Synonyms

P

to prevent

vsto put a lid on

∞ 2.3

Stop something from happening or someone from doing it

is more about keeping matters quiet or limiting ongoing exposure

C

to contain

vsto put a lid on

220 3.5

To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse

aims more at preventing public knowledge or continued exposure

S

to suppress

vsto put a lid on

151 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

can be less forceful and more about preventing public continuation

H

to hold down

vsto put a lid on

88 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

focuses on preventing continuation or becoming public rather than just growth

C

to curb

vsto put a lid on

74 3.5

To limit or control something to stop it getting worse

is more about stopping spread or public exposure specifically

S

to stifle

vsto put a lid on

71 5.3

To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show

focuses more specifically on stopping spread or public disclosure

C

to close off

vsto put a lid on

64 3.9

Stop people or vehicles from entering a place

is broader, often involving limiting information or stopping continuation

P

to put a stop to

vsto put a lid on

58 3.0

To end something so it no longer happens

focuses more on limiting or preventing public spread rather than ending

I

to inhibit

vsto put a lid on

51 5.4

Stop or make something less likely to happen

is more about actively preventing continuation or public knowledge

S

to seal off

vsto put a lid on

49 3.9

Stop people from entering or leaving an area by blocking it

is less about physical isolation and more about limiting spread or publicity

K

to keep a lid on

vsto put a lid on

• Informal

21 5.0

To control something so it does not grow or become known

is the same meaning but uses a different informal phrasing

C

to clamp down

vsto put a lid on

20 4.2

To use strict rules and punishments to stop bad or illegal actions

may instead limit information or continuation without heavy enforcement

Q

to quash

vsto put a lid on

• Formal

14 8.1

Forcefully stop something like a protest or rumor

is more about limiting spread or keeping matters from becoming public

C

to clamp down on

vsto put a lid on

14 5.3

Take strong action to stop something bad or illegal

can be about quieter limitation or preventing public awareness instead

P

to put the brakes on

vsto put a lid on

13 4.3

To slow down an activity or stop it

leans toward fully stopping or preventing further spread or publicity

R

to repress

vsto put a lid on

12 6.1

Stop a process or action from happening

is aimed more at preventing public continuation or exposure

C

to choke off

vsto put a lid on

8 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

often works by hiding or limiting information rather than blocking a source

F

to foreclose

vsto put a lid on

• Formal

7 7.9

To stop something from happening or make it impossible

is usually less formal and often targets publicity or continuation

C

to close out

vsto put a lid on

5 6.5

Prevent a chance or option from being used

focuses more on limiting continuation or public exposure rather than anticipation

C

to call a lid

vsto put a lid on

• UK

8.4

To stop a meeting or discussion

tends to limit continuation or public revelation rather than formally ending

Antonyms

U

to unleash

206 4.3

To suddenly let a strong feeling, power, or animal go free

How Limited

to shut down

∞ 2.9

to suppress

151 4.8

to put a lid on

• US

12 6.4

to limit

465 2.1

to curb

74 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology