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polish off

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
pol·ish  (plsh)
v. pol·ished, pol·ish·ing, pol·ish·es
v.tr.
1. To make smooth and shiny by rubbing or chemical action.
2. To remove the outer layers from (grains of rice) by rotation in drums.
3. To free from coarseness; refine: polish one's manners.
4. To remove flaws from; perfect or complete: polish one's piano technique; polish up the lyrics.
v.intr.
1. To become smooth or shiny by or as if by being rubbed.
2. To become perfect or refined.
n.
1. Smoothness or shininess of surface or finish.
2. A substance containing chemical agents or abrasive particles and applied to smooth or shine a surface: shoe polish.
3. The act or process of polishing.
4. Elegance of style or manners; refinement.
Phrasal Verb:
polish off Informal
To finish or dispose of quickly and easily.

[Middle English polisshen, from Old French polir, poliss-, from Latin polre; see pel-5 in Indo-European roots.]

polish·er n.

polish off
Verb
Informal
1. to finish completely
2. to dispose of or kill
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.polish off - finish a task completely; "I finally got through this homework assignment"
complete, finish - come or bring to a finish or an end; "He finished the dishes"; "She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree"; "The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours"
cap off - finish or complete, as with some decisive action; "he capped off the meeting with a radical proposal"
2.polish off - kill intentionally and with premeditation; "The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered"
kill - cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly; "This man killed several people when he tried to rob a bank"; "The farmer killed a pig for the holidays"
burke - murder without leaving a trace on the body
execute - murder in a planned fashion; "The Mafioso who collaborated with the police was executed"
3.polish off - finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table; "She polished off the remaining potatoes"
eat - take in solid food; "She was eating a banana"; "What did you eat for dinner last night?"
tuck away, tuck in, put away - eat up; usually refers to a considerable quantity of food; "My son tucked in a whole pizza"

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Then we sat down to polish off the perspiration and arrange about what we would do with him when we got him.
 
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