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kill off

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kill (someone or an animal) off

to kill all of a group of people or creatures. Lefty set out to kill Max and his boys off. Something killed off all the dinosaurs.

See also: kill, off

kill off

1. Render extinct, eliminate completely, as in The plague killed off entire villages and towns. [c. 1600]

2. Represent as dead, as in This mystery writer kills off a new victim in almost every chapter. [Mid-1800s]

See also: kill, off

kill off

v.

1. To destroy some form of life in such large numbers that none is left: The poisonous chemicals have killed off the fish that once lived in this pond. The pesticides killed the crops off.

2. To destroy or eliminate something, especially plans, ideas, or activities: Your insolent behavior has killed off any desire I might have had to help you. The disinfectant killed the odor off.

See also: kill, off