pay off
The phrase 'pay off' can refer to settling debts, achieving benefits, dismissing employees, or even bribing someone.
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Definition
B2Finance
To settle the full amount of a debt or loan.
Example
- He managed to pay off his student loans within five years.
B2General
(informal)To yield a benefit or profit as a result of effort or investment.
Example
- All her hard work finally paid off when she got the promotion.
B2Employment
To discharge an employee by giving them their final wages.
Example
- The company had to pay off several employees due to budget cuts.
C1Corruption
(informal)To bribe someone to influence their actions.
Example
- They tried to pay off the official to get the contract approved.
C2Nautical
(technical)For a vessel to move leeward or sideways.
Example
- The ship began to pay off, drifting away from its original course.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "pay off":
pay outpay backbuy offwork offplay offearn outfinish offcharge offpull offpay the pipersquare awaycash incash outwrite offbring offsquare uppay the rentbuy outcarry offclear offrake offpay the fiddlerpass offget offmake offcome offput paid to