hung up one's boots
Quit the game
To hang up one's boots is to retire, especially from a sport or physically demanding career.
The image is of an athlete putting away equipment for the last time.
After twenty years on the force, he finally hung up his boots.
The phrase appears most often in British English and in contexts involving football, rugby, or similar sports.
- retireCease employment permanently
- golden yearsLater life stage
- put out to pastureForce into retirement
- career changeMoving to different occupation
- athleticsCompetitive physical activities
final act · quit · football · wrap up · conclude · end · soccer · golden handshake · finish · final whistle · final curtain · signing off · resign · bow out · take a bow · victory lap · ride off into the sunset · swan song
hung up one's bootsstarted out
Took initial action
broke into · took up · apprenticed · hit the ground running · climbed the ladder
hung up one's bootshit the ground running
Begin working effectively immediately
hung, hangs, hanging, hanger, hangers, hangings, ones, boot, boots