put to flight

put (one) to flight

To cause someone to flee. Often used in passive constructions. The heroic officer stood in front of the bank tellers with his weapon raised toward the would-be burglars, putting them to flight instantly. It's nearly impossible to conceive of so many people being put to flight from their own country because of this conflict.

See also: flight, put, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

put to flight

Cause to run away, as in The bombs put the civilians to flight. [Mid-1800s]

See also: flight, put, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.