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pay off

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pay off

to yield profits; to result in benefits. My investment in those stocks has really paid off. The time I spent in school paid off in later years.

See also: off, pay

pay someone off.

 

1. Lit. to pay what is owed to a person. I can't pay you off until Wednesday when I get my paycheck. I have to use this money to pay off Sarah.

2. Fig. to bribe someone. Max asked Lefty if he had paid the cops off yet. Lefty paid off the cops on time.

See also: off, pay

pay something off

to pay all of a debt; to pay the final payment for something bought on credit. This month I'll pay the car off. Did you pay off the gas bill yet?

See also: off, pay

pay off

to result in success I hope all this hard work pays off.

See also: off, pay

pay off somebody

also pay somebody off

to give someone money illegally to get them to do what you want The pair had paid off local police to protect their drug-selling operation.

See also: off, pay

pay off something

also pay something off

to pay all of a debt It took her six years to pay off her student loan. I guess I can afford a new car, but it's a lot of money and it's not easy to pay it off.

See also: off, pay

pay off

1. Pay the full amount on a debt or on wages, as in The car's finally paid off, or Les pays off the workers every Friday evening. [Early 1700s]

2. Produce a profit, as in That gamble did not pay off. [Mid-1900s]

3. Also, pay off an old score. Get revenge on someone for some grievance, require, as in Jerry was satisfied; he'd paid off his ex-partner when he bought him out at half-price, or Amy went out with her roommate's boyfriend, but she was paying off and old score.

4. Bribe, as in The owner of the bar paid off the local police so he wouldn't get in trouble for serving liquor to minors . [Colloquial; c. 1900]

See also: off, pay

pay off

v.

1. To pay the full amount of some debt: She paid off the mortgage ahead of schedule. He paid his college debt off six years after he graduated.

2. To result in profit; be lucrative: Your efforts will eventually pay off.

3. To result in some degree of profit or loss: My unwise bet paid off very badly.

4. To pay the wages that are due to an employee upon discharge: We were fired, so they paid us off and we left the building. The company didn't fire the workers because it couldn't afford to pay them off.

5. To bribe someone in order to ensure cooperation: The owner of the factory paid off the inspectors so that they wouldn't report the safety violations. I won't allow anyone to cheat here, and no one can pay me off.

See also: off, pay