lay (someone or something) to rest

1. To bury someone who has died. Paul will be laid to rest on Saturday, and I plan to go to the funeral service.

2. By extension, to stop or finish discussing, thinking about, or focusing on something. OK, I think we have to agree to disagree. Let's just lay the issue to rest and stop arguing. Why are you still being so jealous? I thought we'd laid this all to rest ages ago.

lay someone to rest

Euph. to bury a dead person. They laid her to rest by her mother and father, out in the old churchyard. We gather together today to lay our beloved son to rest.

lay to rest

1. See lay at rest.

2. Bury someone, as in She wanted to be laid to rest beside her husband. This usage replaced the earlier go to rest. [Late 1800s]

lay something to rest

put something to rest

If you lay something such as fears or rumours to rest or if you put them to rest, you succeed in proving that they are not true. His speech should lay those fears to rest. I am determined to put to rest these rumours that we are in financial trouble.

lay something to rest

soothe and dispel fear, anxiety, grief, and similar unpleasant emotions.

lay somebody to ˈrest

(formal) bury somebody: He was laid to rest beside his parents.

lay something to ˈrest

stop something by showing that it is not true: The media speculation about their relationship has finally been laid to rest.