kill off
Idioms-
Render extinct, eliminate completely, as in The plague killed off entire villages and towns . [c. 1600]
-
Represent as dead, as in This mystery writer kills off a new victim in almost every chapter . [Mid-1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This follows a strategic decision to kill off traditional sedans and hold the line on profits rather than chase volume, which is making the company more money and winning over Wall Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Health officials have advised the public to thoroughly wash produce, avoid certain fruits like raspberries, and cook vegetables to kill off the pathogen - but they still have not identified its sources.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
By definition, it has not been pasteurized, the simple process of heating milk to kill off harmful bacteria.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
“AI may eventually kill off jobs, but that time is not now,” said Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
The same woman asked, “Did the freeze kill off the rest of your fish?”
From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
