snuff out

Idioms  

1. Extinguish, put a sudden end to, as in Three young lives were snuffed out in that automobile accident . This usage alludes to snuff in the sense of “put out a candle by pinching the wick,” an area itself called snuff from the late 1300s on. [Mid-1800s]

2. Kill, murder, as in If he told the police, the gang would snuff him out . [ Slang ; first half of 1900s]

3. Also, snuff it . Die or be killed, as in He looked very ill indeed, as though he might snuff out any day , or Grandpa just snuffed it . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Vitinha, a stellar performer in PSG's Champions League win, was the decisive performer with two stunning strikes to snuff out the Spurs lead, one with his right foot another with his left.

From BBC

Nine seconds later, Davis left the game, and so did the Lakers’ hopes, their surging comeback bid snuffed out in a 121-106 defeat that has turned this series upside down.

From Los Angeles Times

The Celtics did almost all they could to snuff out that chance.

From Washington Times

Quasars are powered by supermassive black holes, and sometimes belch out waves of matter that can snuff out baby stars.

From Salon

But the article already had pretty much snuffed out Alioto’s political career.

From Los Angeles Times