hang up one's boots
End one's career
To hang up one's boots is to retire from an activity, especially a sport or profession one has pursued for years.
The image is of an athlete putting away equipment for good.
After thirty years on the force, Detective Murphy finally hung up his boots.
The phrase often carries a note of finality and accomplished service.
- retireCease employment permanently
- bow outVoluntarily leave a situation
- resignVoluntarily leave office
- throwing in the towelAccepting defeat, stopping effort
- call it quitsCease effort or partnership
step down · quit · abdicate · put out to pasture · moving on · call it a day · farewell · final bow · leave · final whistle · ride off into the sunset · vacate · stepping aside · passing the torch · disengage · depart · turning point · end of an era
hang up one's bootsroll up one's sleeves
Prepare for physical work
get stuck in · double down · throw oneself into · buckle down · knuckle down
hang up one's bootsstart out
Begin a journey
start fresh · break into · take up · throw one's hat in the ring · turn pro
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