off something

См. также в других словарях:

• stave off something — stave off (something) to keep something away or keep something from happening. The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates to boost the economy and stave off a recession. Death is natural and inevitable we can t stave it off forever. Related… …   New idioms dictionary

• write off (something) — 1. to accept that a debt will not be paid. Last year the bank wrote off $17 million in bad loans. I ll probably never see the money I loaned my brother, so I guess I ll write it off. 2. to decide that something will not be successful. For a long… …   New idioms dictionary

• fight off something — fight off (something) 1. to get rid of something, esp. an illness. Her body couldn t fight the infection off. 2. to keep yourself from doing something you should not do. I was trying to fight off the urge to sneak into the kitchen for something… …   New idioms dictionary

• rattle off something — rattle off (something) to say something quickly. She rattled something off in French that I didn t understand. Usage notes: often used when someone gives a list of facts or other related information from memory: Walter could rattle off the… …   New idioms dictionary

• set off (something) — 1. to cause an explosion. The investigation determined that he probably did not set off the blast deliberately. Apparently the bomb was placed in a locker and someone set it off with a cell phone. 2. to cause something to be noticed or make it… …   New idioms dictionary

• ward off something — ward off (someone/something) to try to keep away someone or something that would hurt you. He raised his arm at the elbow to ward off the blow. They have a “No Trespassing” sign out front to ward off anyone who happens by. She often gets… …   New idioms dictionary

• blow off something — blow off (something) 1. to get rid of something. The old millionaire blew off one marriage to wed his new partner. Your average worker can t just blow off his credit card debt. 2. to consider something to be unimportant. Some students will simply …   New idioms dictionary

• head off something — head off (something) to avoid something bad by doing something now. The UN Security Council is hoping to head off further violence. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of head someone or something off (= to stop the movement of people or… …   New idioms dictionary

• palm off something — palm off (something) to trick or persuade someone to take something. They palmed off cheap wine at high prices by putting it in fancy bottles. She produced fake stamps and palmed them off as genuine. Related vocabulary: fob something off on… …   New idioms dictionary

• polish off something — polish off (something) to finish something quickly and easily. He polished off two burgers and a mountain of French fries. He was nearly finished with the report, and said he could polish it off in another hour or two. Usage notes: most often… …   New idioms dictionary

• siphon off something — siphon off (something) to take something that was intended for someone or something else. The dictator and his close friends siphoned off up to 20 percent of the annual budget. The donated food was mostly siphoned off and sold, while the needy… …   New idioms dictionary