pulling the plug
Cutting off life-support
Pulling the plug means ending something abruptly, especially withdrawing support or resources that keep something going.
The image comes from disconnecting electrical equipment.
In medicine, it refers specifically to removing life support from a terminally ill patient: The family made the difficult decision to pull the plug.
More broadly: The network pulled the plug on the show after two seasons.
Final portion of something
- cessationA full stopping
- stoppageInterruption of flow
- cancellationVoiding of plans
- discontinuationFormal ending of something
halt · shutdown · closure · finale · axing · killing · scrapping · wrapping-up
Deliberate death for relief
- end-of-lifeNearing death phase
- terminalAt the endpoint
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- respiratorBreathing protection device
DNR · hospice · palliative · coma · mercy · passing · intensive-care
Breaking an established link
- outageLoss of electrical service
- socketHollow receiving cavity
- outletPoint of release
- cordFlexible twisted strand
switch · circuit-breaker · blackout · deactivation · appliance · short-circuit
ending
Final portion of something
- cessationA full stopping
- stoppageInterruption of flow
- cancellationVoiding of plans
discontinuation · halt · shutdown · closure · finale · axing · killing · scrapping · wrapping-up · shuttering
euthanasia
Deliberate death for relief
- end-of-lifeNearing death phase
- terminalAt the endpoint
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
respirator · DNR · hospice · palliative · coma · mercy · passing · intensive-care
disconnecting
Breaking an established link
cord · switch · circuit-breaker · blackout · deactivation · appliance · short-circuit
- desperate measureslast resort, desperate plea, desperation move, last ditch, last chance
- disconnectingdetaching, disconnect, disengaging, detach, disconnecting
pulling the plugsustaining
Maintaining over time
maintaining · continuing · prolonging · preserving · greenlighting
pulling the plugplugging in
Inserting into socket
launching · starting up · kicking off · firing up · initiating
pulling the plugdoubling down
Strengthening a risky commitment
going all in · sticking with it · recommitting · reinvesting · persevering
pull, pulling, pulled, pulls, puller, plug, plugs, plugged, plugging