1. Home
2. Idioms
3. trade off

trade off

---

---

trade something off

 

1. Lit. to get rid of something in an exchange. I traded my car off. I traded off my old car for a new one.

2. Fig. to sacrifice something in an exchange. You may end up trading job security off for more money. Don't trade off your job security.

See also: off, trade

trade off

Exchange one thing for another, especially as a compromise. For example, They were willing to trade off some vacation for the freedom to work flexible hours. This idiom gave rise to tradeoff for "an exchange." [First half of 1800s]

See also: off, trade

trade off

v.

To take turns: My roommate and I trade off washing the dishes.

See also: off, trade