Grammar fix
put to sleep
euthanize a pet
To have a very ill or suffering animal killed painlessly.
expression
How oftenNow and then
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The vet said it was kinder to put our old cat to sleep.
Our family dog became seriously ill when I was young, and the vet eventually had to put her to sleep.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: We had to put our dog down to sleep.
Say: We had to put our dog to sleep. / We had to have our dog put down.
Do not mix the two expressions 'put to sleep' and 'put down'.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
End a sick animal's life kindly
How directGentleExplicit
put to sleepYou're here · A gentle expression when discussing the death of a pet.
put downThe usual practical expression for euthanizing an animal.put out of its miseryEmphasizes ending an animal's suffering through death.