polish off

British  

verb

1. to finish or process completely

2. to dispose of or kill; eliminate

---

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.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polish off

Khachanov fought back after going a break down early in the second set and forced a tie-break, saving set point with a magnificent backhand to polish off a 22-shot rally.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

There is something magical about seeing Ohtani polish off his first inning on the mound, then immediately grab a bat and head to the plate without ever stopping in the dugout.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

“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 ● Jan. 28, 2025

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 ● Nov. 1, 2024

After I polish off the rest of the kabob, I tell my friends, “I just had history,” remembering what I was excited to share with them.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• finish off
• put away