throw away the key

English

Etymology

An ellipsis of "lock (someone) up and throw away the key" (to incarcerate indefinitely)

Verb

throw away the key

1. To never release someone (e.g., from prison).

   They should just lock them up and throw away the key.

   • 1995 November 19, “Senators Pete Domenici and John Breaux Discuss the Shutdown of the Federal Government”, in CBS_FaceNation:

     Let's get these men together in a room and I would suggest feed them bread and water and throw away the key until they come together