put (someone or something) out of business

put (someone or something) out of business

To cause or force a person, company, group, or organization to cease commercial trading. The advent of digital books has revolutionized the publishing industry, but unfortunately it has also put a lot of traditional book sellers and publishers out of business. The government put us out of business after news of alleged insider trading was leaked to the media.

See also: business, of, out, put