diff --git a/src/comp/metadata/tydecode.rs b/src/comp/metadata/tydecode.rs
index 3a09f6db883f..70e87824ad0d 100644
--- a/src/comp/metadata/tydecode.rs
+++ b/src/comp/metadata/tydecode.rs
@@ -55,11 +55,6 @@ fn parse_ty_data(data: @[u8], crate_num: int, pos: uint, len: uint,
 fn parse_ret_ty(st: @pstate, sd: str_def) -> (ast::ret_style, ty::t) {
     alt peek(st) as char {
       '!' { next(st); (ast::noreturn, ty::mk_bot(st.tcx)) }
-      '&' | '^' {
-        let mut = next(st) == '^' as u8;
-        let arg = next(st) as uint;
-        (ast::return_ref(mut, arg), parse_ty(st, sd))
-      }
       _ { (ast::return_val, parse_ty(st, sd)) }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/comp/metadata/tyencode.rs b/src/comp/metadata/tyencode.rs
index 029127445d0f..4f3d51e0714e 100644
--- a/src/comp/metadata/tyencode.rs
+++ b/src/comp/metadata/tyencode.rs
@@ -214,11 +214,6 @@ fn enc_ty_fn(w: io::writer, cx: @ctxt, args: [ty::arg], out: ty::t,
     }
     alt cf {
       noreturn. { w.write_char('!'); }
-      return_ref(mut, arg) {
-        w.write_char(mut ? '^' : '&');
-        w.write_bytes([arg as u8]);
-        enc_ty(w, cx, out);
-      }
       _ { enc_ty(w, cx, out); }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/alias.rs b/src/comp/middle/alias.rs
index 7e05e9186c3e..e3353e3d4830 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/alias.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/alias.rs
@@ -28,10 +28,8 @@ type binding = @{node_id: node_id,
                  unsafe_tys: [unsafe_ty],
                  mutable copied: copied};
 
-tag ret_info { by_ref(bool, node_id); other; }
 // FIXME it may be worthwhile to use a linked list of bindings instead
 type scope = {bs: [binding],
-              ret_info: ret_info,
               invalid: @mutable list<@invalid>};
 
 fn mk_binding(cx: ctx, id: node_id, span: span, root_var: option::t<node_id>,
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ fn check_crate(tcx: ty::ctxt, crate: @ast::crate) -> (copy_map, ref_map) {
               visit_expr: bind visit_expr(cx, _, _, _),
               visit_block: bind visit_block(cx, _, _, _)
               with *visit::default_visitor::<scope>()};
-    let sc = {bs: [], ret_info: other, invalid: @mutable list::nil};
+    let sc = {bs: [], invalid: @mutable list::nil};
     visit::visit_crate(*crate, sc, visit::mk_vt(v));
     tcx.sess.abort_if_errors();
     ret (cx.copy_map, cx.ref_map);
@@ -84,24 +82,12 @@ fn visit_fn(cx: @ctx, f: ast::_fn, _tp: [ast::ty_param], sp: span,
         }
     }
 
-    if ast_util::ret_by_ref(f.decl.cf) && !is_none(f.body.node.expr) {
-        // FIXME this will be easier to lift once have DPS
-        err(*cx, option::get(f.body.node.expr).span,
-            "reference-returning functions may not return implicitly");
-    }
-    let ret_info = alt f.decl.cf {
-      ast::return_ref(mut, n_arg) {
-        by_ref(mut, f.decl.inputs[n_arg - 1u].id)
-      }
-      _ { other }
-    };
     // Blocks need to obey any restrictions from the enclosing scope, and may
     // be called multiple times.
     if f.proto == ast::proto_block {
-        let sc = {ret_info: ret_info with sc};
         check_loop(*cx, sc) {|| v.visit_block(f.body, sc, v);}
     } else {
-        let sc = {bs: [], ret_info: ret_info, invalid: @mutable list::nil};
+        let sc = {bs: [], invalid: @mutable list::nil};
         v.visit_block(f.body, sc, v);
     }
 }
@@ -134,17 +120,6 @@ fn visit_expr(cx: @ctx, ex: @ast::expr, sc: scope, v: vt<scope>) {
       ast::expr_assign(dest, src) | ast::expr_assign_op(_, dest, src) {
         check_assign(cx, dest, src, sc, v);
       }
-      ast::expr_ret(oexpr) {
-        if !is_none(oexpr) {
-            alt sc.ret_info {
-              by_ref(mut, arg_node_id) {
-                check_ret_ref(*cx, sc, mut, arg_node_id, option::get(oexpr));
-              }
-              _ {}
-            }
-        }
-        handled = false;
-      }
       ast::expr_if(c, then, els) { check_if(c, then, els, sc, v); }
       ast::expr_while(_, _) | ast::expr_do_while(_, _) {
         check_loop(*cx, sc) {|| visit::visit_expr(ex, sc, v); }
@@ -237,9 +212,6 @@ fn cant_copy(cx: ctx, b: binding) -> bool {
 fn check_call(cx: ctx, sc: scope, f: @ast::expr, args: [@ast::expr])
     -> [binding] {
     let fty = ty::expr_ty(cx.tcx, f);
-    let by_ref = alt ty::ty_fn_ret_style(cx.tcx, fty) {
-      ast::return_ref(_, arg_n) { arg_n } _ { 0u }
-    };
     let arg_ts = ty::ty_fn_args(cx.tcx, fty);
     let mut_roots: [{arg: uint, node: node_id}] = [];
     let bindings = [];
@@ -265,7 +237,7 @@ fn check_call(cx: ctx, sc: scope, f: @ast::expr, args: [@ast::expr])
                        mutable copied: alt arg_t.mode {
                          ast::by_move. | ast::by_copy. { copied }
                          ast::by_mut_ref. { not_allowed }
-                         _ { i + 1u == by_ref ? not_allowed : not_copied }
+                         _ { not_copied }
                        }}];
         i += 1u;
     }
@@ -338,69 +310,6 @@ fn check_call(cx: ctx, sc: scope, f: @ast::expr, args: [@ast::expr])
     ret bindings;
 }
 
-fn check_ret_ref(cx: ctx, sc: scope, mut: bool, arg_node_id: node_id,
-                 expr: @ast::expr) {
-    let root = expr_root(cx, expr, false);
-    let bad = none;
-    let mut_field = !is_none(root.mut);
-    alt path_def(cx, root.ex) {
-      none. {
-        bad = some("a temporary");
-      }
-      some(ast::def_local(did, _)) | some(ast::def_binding(did)) |
-      some(ast::def_arg(did, _)) {
-        let cur_node = did.node;
-        while true {
-            alt cx.tcx.items.find(cur_node) {
-              some(ast_map::node_arg(arg, _)) {
-                if arg.mode == ast::by_move {
-                    bad = some("a move-mode parameter");
-                }
-                if arg.mode == ast::by_copy {
-                    bad = some("a copy-mode parameter");
-                }
-                if cur_node != arg_node_id {
-                    bad = some("the wrong parameter");
-                }
-                break;
-              }
-              _ {}
-            }
-            alt vec::find({|b| b.node_id == cur_node}, sc.bs) {
-              some(b) {
-                if vec::len(b.unsafe_tys) > 0u {
-                    mut_field = true;
-                    break;
-                }
-                if is_none(b.root_var) {
-                    bad = some("a function-local value");
-                    break;
-                }
-                if b.copied == copied {
-                    bad = some("an implicitly copied reference");
-                    break;
-                }
-                b.copied = not_allowed;
-                cur_node = option::get(b.root_var);
-              }
-              none. {
-                bad = some("a function-local value");
-                break;
-              }
-            }
-        }
-      }
-      _ { bad = some("a non-local value"); }
-    }
-    if mut_field && !mut { bad = some("a mutable field"); }
-    alt bad {
-      some(name) {
-        err(cx, expr.span, "can not return a reference to " + name);
-      }
-      _ {}
-    }
-}
-
 fn check_alt(cx: ctx, input: @ast::expr, arms: [ast::arm], sc: scope,
              v: vt<scope>) {
     v.visit_expr(input, sc, v);
@@ -733,22 +642,6 @@ fn expr_root(cx: ctx, ex: @ast::expr, autoderef: bool)
           _ {}
         }
       }
-      ast::expr_call(f, args, _) {
-        let fty = ty::expr_ty(cx.tcx, f);
-        alt ty::ty_fn_ret_style(cx.tcx, fty) {
-          ast::return_ref(mut, arg_n) {
-            let arg = args[arg_n - 1u];
-            let arg_root = expr_root(cx, arg, false);
-            if mut {
-                let ret_ty = ty::expr_ty(cx.tcx, base_root.ex);
-                unsafe_ty = some(mut_contains(ret_ty));
-            }
-            if !is_none(arg_root.mut) { unsafe_ty = arg_root.mut; }
-            ret {ex: arg_root.ex, mut: unsafe_ty};
-          }
-          _ {}
-        }
-      }
       _ {}
     }
     ret {ex: base_root.ex, mut: unsafe_ty};
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/kind.rs b/src/comp/middle/kind.rs
index 42dfbd1cb6fc..32f249132863 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/kind.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/kind.rs
@@ -30,19 +30,16 @@ type rval_map = std::map::hashmap<node_id, ()>;
 
 type ctx = {tcx: ty::ctxt,
             rval_map: rval_map,
-            last_uses: last_use::last_uses,
-            mutable ret_by_ref: bool};
+            last_uses: last_use::last_uses};
 
 fn check_crate(tcx: ty::ctxt, last_uses: last_use::last_uses,
                crate: @crate) -> rval_map {
     let ctx = {tcx: tcx,
                rval_map: std::map::new_int_hash(),
-               last_uses: last_uses,
-               mutable ret_by_ref: false};
+               last_uses: last_uses};
     let visit = visit::mk_vt(@{
         visit_expr: check_expr,
-        visit_stmt: check_stmt,
-        visit_fn: visit_fn
+        visit_stmt: check_stmt
         with *visit::default_visitor()
     });
     visit::visit_crate(*crate, ctx, visit);
@@ -55,7 +52,7 @@ fn check_expr(e: @expr, cx: ctx, v: visit::vt<ctx>) {
       expr_assign(_, ex) | expr_assign_op(_, _, ex) |
       expr_block({node: {expr: some(ex), _}, _}) |
       expr_unary(box(_), ex) | expr_unary(uniq(_), ex) { maybe_copy(cx, ex); }
-      expr_ret(some(ex)) { if !cx.ret_by_ref { maybe_copy(cx, ex); } }
+      expr_ret(some(ex)) { maybe_copy(cx, ex); }
       expr_copy(expr) { check_copy_ex(cx, expr, false); }
       // Vector add copies.
       expr_binary(add., ls, rs) { maybe_copy(cx, ls); maybe_copy(cx, rs); }
@@ -138,14 +135,6 @@ fn check_stmt(stmt: @stmt, cx: ctx, v: visit::vt<ctx>) {
     visit::visit_stmt(stmt, cx, v);
 }
 
-fn visit_fn(f: _fn, tps: [ty_param], sp: span, ident: fn_ident,
-            id: node_id, cx: ctx, v: visit::vt<ctx>) {
-    let old_ret = cx.ret_by_ref;
-    cx.ret_by_ref = ast_util::ret_by_ref(f.decl.cf);
-    visit::visit_fn(f, tps, sp, ident, id, cx, v);
-    cx.ret_by_ref = old_ret;
-}
-
 fn maybe_copy(cx: ctx, ex: @expr) {
     check_copy_ex(cx, ex, true);
 }
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/trans.rs b/src/comp/middle/trans.rs
index 1a867f28b7b1..624a168ef634 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/trans.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/trans.rs
@@ -80,14 +80,14 @@ fn type_of_explicit_args(cx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span, inputs: [ty::arg]) ->
 //  - new_fn_ctxt
 //  - trans_args
 fn type_of_fn(cx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span,
-              is_method: bool, ret_ref: bool, inputs: [ty::arg],
+              is_method: bool, inputs: [ty::arg],
               output: ty::t, ty_param_count: uint)
    : non_ty_var(cx, output) -> TypeRef {
     let atys: [TypeRef] = [];
 
     // Arg 0: Output pointer.
     let out_ty = T_ptr(type_of_inner(cx, sp, output));
-    atys += [ret_ref ? T_ptr(out_ty) : out_ty];
+    atys += [out_ty];
 
     // Arg 1: Env (closure-bindings / self-obj)
     if is_method {
@@ -108,13 +108,12 @@ fn type_of_fn(cx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span,
 fn type_of_fn_from_ty(cx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span, fty: ty::t,
                       ty_param_count: uint)
     : returns_non_ty_var(cx, fty) -> TypeRef {
-    let by_ref = ast_util::ret_by_ref(ty::ty_fn_ret_style(cx.tcx, fty));
     // FIXME: Check should be unnecessary, b/c it's implied
     // by returns_non_ty_var(t). Make that a postcondition
     // (see Issue #586)
     let ret_ty = ty::ty_fn_ret(cx.tcx, fty);
     check non_ty_var(cx, ret_ty);
-    ret type_of_fn(cx, sp, false, by_ref, ty::ty_fn_args(cx.tcx, fty),
+    ret type_of_fn(cx, sp, false, ty::ty_fn_args(cx.tcx, fty),
                    ret_ty, ty_param_count);
 }
 
@@ -3046,11 +3045,10 @@ fn trans_object_field_inner(bcx: @block_ctxt, o: ValueRef,
     let v = GEPi(bcx, vtbl, [0, ix as int]);
     let fn_ty: ty::t = ty::method_ty_to_fn_ty(tcx, mths[ix]);
     let ret_ty = ty::ty_fn_ret(tcx, fn_ty);
-    let ret_ref = ast_util::ret_by_ref(ty::ty_fn_ret_style(tcx, fn_ty));
     // FIXME: constrain ty_obj?
     check non_ty_var(ccx, ret_ty);
 
-    let ll_fn_ty = type_of_fn(ccx, bcx.sp, true, ret_ref,
+    let ll_fn_ty = type_of_fn(ccx, bcx.sp, true,
                               ty::ty_fn_args(tcx, fn_ty), ret_ty, 0u);
     v = Load(bcx, PointerCast(bcx, v, T_ptr(T_ptr(ll_fn_ty))));
     ret {bcx: bcx, mthptr: v, objptr: o};
@@ -3656,16 +3654,14 @@ fn trans_arg_expr(cx: @block_ctxt, arg: ty::arg, lldestty0: TypeRef,
 //  - create_llargs_for_fn_args.
 //  - new_fn_ctxt
 //  - trans_args
-fn trans_args(cx: @block_ctxt, outer_cx: @block_ctxt, llenv: ValueRef,
+fn trans_args(cx: @block_ctxt, llenv: ValueRef,
               gen: option::t<generic_info>, es: [@ast::expr], fn_ty: ty::t,
               dest: dest)
    -> {bcx: @block_ctxt,
-       outer_cx: @block_ctxt,
        args: [ValueRef],
        retslot: ValueRef,
        to_zero: [{v: ValueRef, t: ty::t}],
-       to_revoke: [{v: ValueRef, t: ty::t}],
-       ret_ref: bool} {
+       to_revoke: [{v: ValueRef, t: ty::t}]} {
 
     let args: [ty::arg] = ty::ty_fn_args(bcx_tcx(cx), fn_ty);
     let llargs: [ValueRef] = [];
@@ -3676,8 +3672,6 @@ fn trans_args(cx: @block_ctxt, outer_cx: @block_ctxt, llenv: ValueRef,
     let ccx = bcx_ccx(cx);
     let tcx = ccx.tcx;
     let bcx = cx;
-    let ret_style = ty::ty_fn_ret_style(tcx, fn_ty);
-    let ret_ref = ast_util::ret_by_ref(ret_style);
 
     let retty = ty::ty_fn_ret(tcx, fn_ty), full_retty = retty;
     alt gen {
@@ -3691,18 +3685,14 @@ fn trans_args(cx: @block_ctxt, outer_cx: @block_ctxt, llenv: ValueRef,
     }
     // Arg 0: Output pointer.
     let llretty = type_of_or_i8(bcx, full_retty);
-    let llretslot = if ret_ref {
-        alloca(cx, T_ptr(llretty))
-    } else {
-        alt dest {
-          ignore. {
-            if ty::type_is_nil(tcx, retty) {
-                llvm::LLVMGetUndef(T_ptr(llretty))
-            } else { alloca(cx, llretty) }
-          }
-          save_in(dst) { dst }
-          by_val(_) { alloca(cx, llretty) }
-        }
+    let llretslot = alt dest {
+      ignore. {
+        if ty::type_is_nil(tcx, retty) {
+            llvm::LLVMGetUndef(T_ptr(llretty))
+        } else { alloca(cx, llretty) }
+      }
+      save_in(dst) { dst }
+      by_val(_) { alloca(cx, llretty) }
     };
 
     if ty::type_contains_params(tcx, retty) {
@@ -3713,7 +3703,6 @@ fn trans_args(cx: @block_ctxt, outer_cx: @block_ctxt, llenv: ValueRef,
         // view, for the sake of making a type-compatible call.
         check non_ty_var(ccx, retty);
         let llretty = T_ptr(type_of_inner(ccx, bcx.sp, retty));
-        if ret_ref { llretty = T_ptr(llretty); }
         llargs += [PointerCast(cx, llretslot, llretty)];
     } else { llargs += [llretslot]; }
 
@@ -3729,25 +3718,19 @@ fn trans_args(cx: @block_ctxt, outer_cx: @block_ctxt, llenv: ValueRef,
     // This will be needed if this is a generic call, because the callee has
     // to cast her view of the arguments to the caller's view.
     let arg_tys = type_of_explicit_args(ccx, cx.sp, args);
-    let i = 0u, outer_cx = outer_cx;
+    let i = 0u;
     for e: @ast::expr in es {
-        let is_referenced = alt ret_style {
-          ast::return_ref(_, arg_n) { i + 1u == arg_n }
-          _ { false }
-        };
-        let r = trans_arg_expr(is_referenced ? outer_cx : bcx,
-                               args[i], arg_tys[i], to_zero, to_revoke, e);
-        if is_referenced { outer_cx = r.bcx; } else { bcx = r.bcx; }
+        let r = trans_arg_expr(bcx, args[i], arg_tys[i], to_zero, to_revoke,
+                               e);
+        bcx = r.bcx;
         llargs += [r.val];
         i += 1u;
     }
     ret {bcx: bcx,
-         outer_cx: outer_cx,
          args: llargs,
          retslot: llretslot,
          to_zero: to_zero,
-         to_revoke: to_revoke,
-         ret_ref: ret_ref};
+         to_revoke: to_revoke};
 }
 
 fn trans_call(in_cx: @block_ctxt, f: @ast::expr,
@@ -3764,6 +3747,7 @@ fn trans_call(in_cx: @block_ctxt, f: @ast::expr,
 //NDM    }
 
     let cx = new_scope_block_ctxt(in_cx, "call");
+    Br(in_cx, cx.llbb);
     let f_res = trans_callee(cx, f);
     let bcx = f_res.bcx;
 
@@ -3789,8 +3773,7 @@ fn trans_call(in_cx: @block_ctxt, f: @ast::expr,
 
     let ret_ty = ty::node_id_to_type(tcx, id);
     let args_res =
-        trans_args(bcx, in_cx, llenv, f_res.generic, args, fn_expr_ty, dest);
-    Br(args_res.outer_cx, cx.llbb);
+        trans_args(bcx, llenv, f_res.generic, args, fn_expr_ty, dest);
     bcx = args_res.bcx;
     let llargs = args_res.args;
     let llretslot = args_res.retslot;
@@ -3803,8 +3786,7 @@ fn trans_call(in_cx: @block_ctxt, f: @ast::expr,
                       args_res.to_revoke);
     alt dest {
       ignore. {
-        if llvm::LLVMIsUndef(llretslot) != lib::llvm::True &&
-           !args_res.ret_ref {
+        if llvm::LLVMIsUndef(llretslot) != lib::llvm::True {
             bcx = drop_ty(bcx, llretslot, ret_ty);
         }
       }
@@ -4445,16 +4427,7 @@ fn trans_cont(sp: span, cx: @block_ctxt) -> @block_ctxt {
 fn trans_ret(bcx: @block_ctxt, e: option::t<@ast::expr>) -> @block_ctxt {
     let cleanup_cx = bcx, bcx = bcx;
     alt e {
-      some(x) {
-        if ast_util::ret_by_ref(bcx.fcx.ret_style) {
-            let {bcx: cx, val, kind} = trans_lval(bcx, x);
-            assert kind == owned;
-            Store(cx, val, bcx.fcx.llretptr);
-            bcx = cx;
-        } else {
-            bcx = trans_expr_save_in(bcx, x, bcx.fcx.llretptr);
-        }
-      }
+      some(x) { bcx = trans_expr_save_in(bcx, x, bcx.fcx.llretptr); }
       _ {}
     }
     // run all cleanups and back out.
@@ -5604,7 +5577,7 @@ fn create_main_wrapper(ccx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span, main_llfn: ValueRef,
         let nt = ty::mk_nil(ccx.tcx);
         check non_ty_var(ccx, nt);
 
-        let llfty = type_of_fn(ccx, sp, false, false, [vecarg_ty], nt, 0u);
+        let llfty = type_of_fn(ccx, sp, false, [vecarg_ty], nt, 0u);
         let llfdecl = decl_fn(ccx.llmod, "_rust_main",
                               lib::llvm::LLVMCCallConv, llfty);
 
@@ -5700,7 +5673,7 @@ fn native_fn_wrapper_type(cx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span, ty_param_count: uint,
     alt ty::struct(cx.tcx, x) {
       ty::ty_native_fn(args, out) {
         check non_ty_var(cx, out);
-        ret type_of_fn(cx, sp, false, false, args, out, ty_param_count);
+        ret type_of_fn(cx, sp, false, args, out, ty_param_count);
       }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/trans_common.rs b/src/comp/middle/trans_common.rs
index c99b6197c83f..e77ce6c8d5fb 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/trans_common.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/trans_common.rs
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ fn get_res_dtor(ccx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span, did: ast::def_id, inner_t: ty::t)
     let nil_res = ty::mk_nil(ccx.tcx);
     // FIXME: Silly check -- mk_nil should have a postcondition
     check non_ty_var(ccx, nil_res);
-    let f_t = type_of_fn(ccx, sp, false, false,
+    let f_t = type_of_fn(ccx, sp, false,
                          [{mode: ast::by_ref, ty: inner_t}],
                          nil_res, params);
     ret trans::get_extern_const(ccx.externs, ccx.llmod,
@@ -430,14 +430,14 @@ fn find_scope_cx(cx: @block_ctxt) -> @block_ctxt {
 // Accessors
 // TODO: When we have overloading, simplify these names!
 
-pure fn bcx_tcx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> &ty::ctxt { ret bcx.fcx.lcx.ccx.tcx; }
-pure fn bcx_ccx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> &@crate_ctxt { ret bcx.fcx.lcx.ccx; }
-pure fn bcx_lcx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> &@local_ctxt { ret bcx.fcx.lcx; }
-pure fn bcx_fcx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> &@fn_ctxt { ret bcx.fcx; }
-pure fn fcx_ccx(fcx: @fn_ctxt) -> &@crate_ctxt { ret fcx.lcx.ccx; }
-pure fn fcx_tcx(fcx: @fn_ctxt) -> &ty::ctxt { ret fcx.lcx.ccx.tcx; }
-pure fn lcx_ccx(lcx: @local_ctxt) -> &@crate_ctxt { ret lcx.ccx; }
-pure fn ccx_tcx(ccx: @crate_ctxt) -> &ty::ctxt { ret ccx.tcx; }
+pure fn bcx_tcx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> ty::ctxt { ret bcx.fcx.lcx.ccx.tcx; }
+pure fn bcx_ccx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> @crate_ctxt { ret bcx.fcx.lcx.ccx; }
+pure fn bcx_lcx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> @local_ctxt { ret bcx.fcx.lcx; }
+pure fn bcx_fcx(bcx: @block_ctxt) -> @fn_ctxt { ret bcx.fcx; }
+pure fn fcx_ccx(fcx: @fn_ctxt) -> @crate_ctxt { ret fcx.lcx.ccx; }
+pure fn fcx_tcx(fcx: @fn_ctxt) -> ty::ctxt { ret fcx.lcx.ccx.tcx; }
+pure fn lcx_ccx(lcx: @local_ctxt) -> @crate_ctxt { ret lcx.ccx; }
+pure fn ccx_tcx(ccx: @crate_ctxt) -> ty::ctxt { ret ccx.tcx; }
 
 // LLVM type constructors.
 fn T_void() -> TypeRef {
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/trans_objects.rs b/src/comp/middle/trans_objects.rs
index d9f25b801a0a..ba3e32c411a7 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/trans_objects.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/trans_objects.rs
@@ -879,8 +879,7 @@ fn process_normal_mthd(cx: @local_ctxt, m: @ast::method, self_ty: ty::t,
     alt ty::struct(cx.ccx.tcx, node_id_type(cx.ccx, m.node.id)) {
       ty::ty_fn(_, inputs, output, rs, _) {
         check non_ty_var(ccx, output);
-        llfnty = type_of_fn(ccx, m.span, true,
-                            ast_util::ret_by_ref(rs), inputs, output,
+        llfnty = type_of_fn(ccx, m.span, true, inputs, output,
                             vec::len(ty_params));
       }
     }
@@ -933,8 +932,7 @@ fn type_of_meth(ccx: @crate_ctxt, sp: span, m: @ty::method,
                 tps: [ast::ty_param]) -> TypeRef {
     let out_ty = m.output;
     check non_ty_var(ccx, out_ty);
-    type_of_fn(ccx, sp, true, ast_util::ret_by_ref(m.cf),
-               m.inputs, out_ty, vec::len(tps))
+    type_of_fn(ccx, sp, true, m.inputs, out_ty, vec::len(tps))
 }
 
 //
diff --git a/src/comp/middle/ty.rs b/src/comp/middle/ty.rs
index be472ff54ebd..e3615d697ba7 100644
--- a/src/comp/middle/ty.rs
+++ b/src/comp/middle/ty.rs
@@ -1670,10 +1670,6 @@ fn expr_is_lval(tcx: ty::ctxt, e: @ast::expr) -> bool {
           ty_rec(_) { true }
         }
       }
-      ast::expr_call(f, _, _) {
-          let fty = expr_ty(tcx, f);
-          ast_util::ret_by_ref(ty_fn_ret_style(tcx, fty))
-      }
       _ { false }
     }
 }
@@ -2623,10 +2619,6 @@ fn type_err_to_str(err: ty::type_err) -> str {
             alt s {
               ast::noreturn. { "non-returning" }
               ast::return_val. { "return-by-value" }
-              ast::return_ref(mut, arg) {
-                #fmt("return-by-%sreference on arg %u",
-                     mut ? "mutable-" : "", arg)
-              }
             }
         }
         ret to_str(actual) + " function found where " + to_str(expect) +
diff --git a/src/comp/syntax/ast.rs b/src/comp/syntax/ast.rs
index dfebf9135fdf..b1e1a16c6af4 100644
--- a/src/comp/syntax/ast.rs
+++ b/src/comp/syntax/ast.rs
@@ -397,7 +397,6 @@ tag ret_style {
     noreturn; // functions with return type _|_ that always
               // raise an error or exit (i.e. never return to the caller)
     return_val; // everything else
-    return_ref(bool, uint);
 }
 
 type _fn = {decl: fn_decl, proto: proto, body: blk};
diff --git a/src/comp/syntax/ast_util.rs b/src/comp/syntax/ast_util.rs
index c68092da90d5..862d182b9fd3 100644
--- a/src/comp/syntax/ast_util.rs
+++ b/src/comp/syntax/ast_util.rs
@@ -223,13 +223,6 @@ fn ternary_to_if(e: @expr) -> @expr {
     }
 }
 
-fn ret_by_ref(style: ret_style) -> bool {
-    alt style {
-      return_ref(_, _) { true }
-      _ { false }
-    }
-}
-
 fn ty_param_kind(tp: ty_param) -> kind { tp.kind }
 
 fn compare_lit(a: @lit, b: @lit) -> int {
diff --git a/src/comp/syntax/parse/parser.rs b/src/comp/syntax/parse/parser.rs
index 35c1e1190d3e..391d5eb88195 100644
--- a/src/comp/syntax/parse/parser.rs
+++ b/src/comp/syntax/parse/parser.rs
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ fn parse_ty_fn(proto: ast::proto, p: parser) -> ast::ty_ {
     // FIXME: there's no syntax for this right now anyway
     //  auto constrs = parse_constrs(~[], p);
     let constrs: [@ast::constr] = [];
-    let (ret_style, ret_ty) = parse_ret_ty(p, vec::len(inputs.node));
+    let (ret_style, ret_ty) = parse_ret_ty(p);
     ret ast::ty_fn(proto, inputs.node, ret_ty, ret_style, constrs);
 }
 
@@ -439,34 +439,12 @@ fn parse_ty_postfix(orig_t: ast::ty_, p: parser, colons_before_params: bool)
     }
 }
 
-fn parse_ret_ty(p: parser, n_args: uint) -> (ast::ret_style, @ast::ty) {
+fn parse_ret_ty(p: parser) -> (ast::ret_style, @ast::ty) {
     ret if eat(p, token::RARROW) {
         let lo = p.get_lo_pos();
         if eat(p, token::NOT) {
             (ast::noreturn, @spanned(lo, p.get_last_hi_pos(), ast::ty_bot))
-        } else {
-            let style = ast::return_val;
-            if eat(p, token::BINOP(token::AND)) {
-                if n_args == 0u {
-                    p.fatal("can not return reference from argument-less fn");
-                }
-                let mut_root = eat(p, token::NOT), arg = 1u;
-                alt p.peek() {
-                  token::LIT_INT(val) { p.bump(); arg = val as uint; }
-                  _ { if n_args > 1u {
-                      p.fatal("must specify referenced parameter");
-                  } }
-                }
-                if arg > n_args {
-                    p.fatal("referenced argument does not exist");
-                }
-                if arg == 0u {
-                    p.fatal("referenced argument can't be 0");
-                }
-                style = ast::return_ref(mut_root, arg);
-            };
-            (style, parse_ty(p, false))
-        }
+        } else { (ast::return_val, parse_ty(p, false)) }
     } else {
         let pos = p.get_lo_pos();
         (ast::return_val, @spanned(pos, pos, ast::ty_nil))
@@ -1791,7 +1769,7 @@ fn parse_fn_decl(p: parser, purity: ast::purity, il: ast::inlineness) ->
         p.bump();
         constrs = parse_constrs({|x| parse_ty_constr(inputs.node, x) }, p);
     }
-    let (ret_style, ret_ty) = parse_ret_ty(p, vec::len(inputs.node));
+    let (ret_style, ret_ty) = parse_ret_ty(p);
     ret {inputs: inputs.node,
          output: ret_ty,
          purity: purity,
diff --git a/src/comp/syntax/print/pprust.rs b/src/comp/syntax/print/pprust.rs
index 7da57be49103..0fb5df69edbe 100644
--- a/src/comp/syntax/print/pprust.rs
+++ b/src/comp/syntax/print/pprust.rs
@@ -1130,15 +1130,6 @@ fn print_fn_args_and_ret(s: ps, decl: ast::fn_decl, constrs: [@ast::constr]) {
     if decl.output.node != ast::ty_nil {
         space_if_not_bol(s);
         word_space(s, "->");
-        alt decl.cf {
-          ast::return_ref(mut, arg) {
-            word(s.s, mut ? "&!" : "&");
-            if vec::len(decl.inputs) > 1u {
-                word_space(s, std::uint::str(arg));
-            }
-          }
-          _ {}
-        }
         print_type(s, decl.output);
     }
 }
@@ -1336,18 +1327,8 @@ fn print_ty_fn(s: ps, proto: ast::proto, id: option::t<ast::ident>,
         space_if_not_bol(s);
         ibox(s, indent_unit);
         word_space(s, "->");
-        if cf == ast::noreturn {
-            word_nbsp(s, "!");
-        } else {
-            alt cf {
-              ast::return_ref(mut, arg) {
-                word(s.s, mut ? "&!" : "&");
-                if vec::len(inputs) > 1u { word(s.s, std::uint::str(arg)); }
-              }
-              _ {}
-            }
-            print_type(s, output);
-        }
+        if cf == ast::noreturn { word_nbsp(s, "!"); }
+        else { print_type(s, output); }
         end(s);
     }
     word(s.s, ast_ty_fn_constrs_str(constrs));
diff --git a/src/comp/util/ppaux.rs b/src/comp/util/ppaux.rs
index 03af32428bb9..d35d871ce656 100644
--- a/src/comp/util/ppaux.rs
+++ b/src/comp/util/ppaux.rs
@@ -62,11 +62,6 @@ fn ty_to_str(cx: ctxt, typ: t) -> str {
             s += " -> ";
             alt cf {
               ast::noreturn. { s += "!"; }
-              ast::return_ref(mut, arg) {
-                s += mut ? "&!" : "&";
-                if vec::len(inputs) > 1u { s += std::uint::str(arg); }
-                s += ty_to_str(cx, output);
-              }
               ast::return_val. { s += ty_to_str(cx, output); }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/lib/option.rs b/src/lib/option.rs
index 2dc25540ca8b..403cb47f47e6 100644
--- a/src/lib/option.rs
+++ b/src/lib/option.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Failure:
 
 Fails if the value equals `none`.
 */
-fn get<T>(opt: t<T>) -> &T {
+fn get<copy T>(opt: t<T>) -> T {
     alt opt { some(x) { ret x; } none. { fail "option none"; } }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-from-temporary.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-from-temporary.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 2a6d05f23d4a..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-from-temporary.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:a reference binding can't be rooted in a temporary
-
-fn f(a: {x: int}) -> &int {
-    ret a.x;
-}
-
-fn main() {
-    let &_a = f({x: 4});
-}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-local-value.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-local-value.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e0df4fc3cdf..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-local-value.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:can not return a reference to a function-local value
-
-fn f(a: {mutable x: int}) -> &int {
-    let x = {y: 4};
-    ret x.y;
-}
-
-fn main() {}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-mutable-field.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-mutable-field.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index a40b9aeba2de..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-mutable-field.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:can not return a reference to a mutable field
-
-fn f(a: {mutable x: int}) -> &int {
-    ret a.x;
-}
-
-fn main() {}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-safety-1.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-safety-1.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index f6cd81308e94..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-safety-1.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:taking the value of x will invalidate reference a
-
-fn f(a: {mutable x: int}) -> &!int {
-    ret a.x;
-}
-
-fn main() {
-    let x = {mutable x: 4};
-    let &a = f(x);
-    x;
-    a;
-}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-safety-2.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-safety-2.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 546511419c13..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-safety-2.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:overwriting x will invalidate reference a
-
-fn f(a: {x: {mutable x: int}}) -> &{mutable x: int} {
-    ret a.x;
-}
-
-fn main() {
-    let x = {x: {mutable x: 4}};
-    let &a = f(x);
-    x = {x: {mutable x: 5}};
-    a;
-}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-specify-param.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-specify-param.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index a99dfc1c8dd9..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-specify-param.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:must specify referenced parameter
-
-fn f(a: int, b: int) -> &int {
-    ret a;
-}
-
-fn main() {}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-temporary.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-temporary.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a571cf3ecc8..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-temporary.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:can not return a reference to a temporary
-
-fn f(a: int) -> &int {
-    ret 10;
-}
-
-fn main() {}
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-wrong-param.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-wrong-param.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 7c4791248057..000000000000
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/ret-by-reference-wrong-param.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-// error-pattern:can not return a reference to the wrong parameter
-
-fn f(a: int, b: int) -> &2 int {
-    ret a;
-}
-
-fn main() {}
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/ret-by-reference.rs b/src/test/run-pass/ret-by-reference.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 9c2324a21691..000000000000
--- a/src/test/run-pass/ret-by-reference.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-tag option<T> { some(T); none; }
-
-fn get<T>(opt: option<T>) -> &T {
-    alt opt {
-      some(x) { ret x; }
-    }
-}
-
-fn get_mut(a: {mutable x: @int}, _b: int) -> &!1 @int {
-    ret a.x;
-}
-
-fn get_deep(a: {mutable y: {mutable x: @int}}) -> &!@int {
-    ret get_mut(a.y, 1);
-}
-
-fn main() {
-    let x = some(@50);
-    let &y = get(x);
-    assert *y == 50;
-    assert get(some(10)) == 10;
-
-    let y = {mutable x: @50};
-    let &box = get_mut(y, 4);
-    assert *box == 50;
-    assert *get_mut({mutable x: @70}, 5) == 70;
-
-    let u = {mutable y: {mutable x: @10}};
-    let &deep = get_deep(u);
-    assert *deep == 10;
-    assert *get_deep({mutable y: {mutable x: @11}}) + 2 == 13;
-}