Definition

Verb: 1. To finish eating or drinking something completely and quickly. 2. To finish or complete something, especially a task, quickly and decisively. 3. (Slang) To kill someone.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Finish consuming):
  • He was so hungry he polished off the whole pizza by himself.
  • The kids polished off the last of the juice.
• Verb (Complete a task):
  • I need to polish off this report before the meeting.
  • She polished off her chores in record time.
• Verb (Slang: Kill):
  • In the gangster movie, the mobster threatened to polish off the informant.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a sense of speed, efficiency, or finality in completing the action.
• It is a separable phrasal verb. The object can be placed between "polish" and "off" or after "off."
  • He polished the cake off. / He polished off the cake.

Variants and Related Words

• Polish (Verb): To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it. This is the literal meaning from which the phrasal verb "polish off" is derived metaphorically, suggesting a final, finishing touch.
  • She polished the silver until it gleamed.

Synonyms

• Finish off: To complete the last part of something.
• Consume: To eat or drink something.
• Dispatch: To deal with something quickly and efficiently.
• Eliminate: To completely remove or get rid of something (or someone).

Phrasal Verbs

• Polish off is itself a phrasal verb. Its meaning is idiomatic and not directly related to the literal act of polishing.

Related Idioms

• Put away: (Informal) To eat or drink a large amount of something.
  • He can really put away a lot of food.
• Wrap up: To finish or complete an activity.
  • Let's wrap up this discussion.

Verb

1. finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table
   • She polished off the remaining potatoes
2. kill intentionally and with premeditation
   • The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
3. finish a task completely
   • I finally got through this homework assignment