Polish off (original) (raw)

I. (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Finish a task completely

Example:

I finally got through this homework assignment

Synonyms:

clear up; finish off; finish up; get through; mop up; polish off; wrap up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "polish off" is one way to...):

complete; finish (come or bring to a finish or an end)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "polish off"):

cap off (finish or complete, as with some decisive action)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table

Example:

She polished off the remaining potatoes

Synonyms:

eat up; finish; polish off

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "polish off" is one way to...):

eat (take in solid food)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "polish off"):

put away; tuck away; tuck in (eat up; usually refers to a considerable quantity of food)

consume; demolish; devour; down; go through (eat up completely, as with great appetite)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They polish off more bread

Sense 3

Meaning:

Kill intentionally and with premeditation

Example:

The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered

Synonyms:

bump off; dispatch; hit; murder; off; polish off; remove; slay

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "polish off" is one way to...):

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "polish off"):

burke (murder without leaving a trace on the body)

execute (murder in a planned fashion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

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