polish off

British  

verb

1. to finish or process completely

2. to dispose of or kill; eliminate

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polish off Idioms  

1. Finish or dispose of, especially quickly and easily. For example, We polished off the pie in no time, or If everyone helps, we can polish off this job today. This usage, dating from the early 1800s, came from boxing, where it originally meant “to defeat an opponent quickly and easily.” By the 1830s it was used more generally.

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Example Sentences

Her eight-foot downhill birdie putt didn't drop on Friday, but her closing par polished off a satisfying round.

From Barron's

South Africa had been polished off in the space of an hour as Cummins became the eighth Australian bowler to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets.

From BBC

“Paradise” is not “about” climate collapse or nuclear weapons or a giant asteroid or an unstoppable virus, or any of the things that typically polish off the world in postapocalyptic fiction.

From Los Angeles Times

A disproportionate number not only did not even passively resist but showed themselves eager to lick the polish off Hitler’s jackboots, if necessary.

From Salon

Unmoved by protesters or warnings that rapid growth was coming, the school district polished off the last of the contentious school closings in the summer of 2009.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• finish off
• put away