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work off

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work something off

 

1. Lit. to get rid of anger, anxiety, or energy by doing physical activity. I was so mad! I went out and played basketball to work my anger off. He works off nervousness by knitting.

2. . Fig. to pay off a debt through work rather than by money. I had no money so I had to work the bill off by washing dishes. I have to work off my debt.

See also: off, work

work off

Get rid of by work or effort, as in They worked off that big dinner by running on the beach, or It'll take him months to work off that debt. [Second half of 1600s]

See also: off, work

work off

v.

1. To get rid of something through effort or work: I started to run two miles a day in order to work off some weight. I owed them a large debt, but I worked it off by painting their house.

2. To use something or someone as a foundation or source of energy to perform work: This laptop works off batteries. I worked off my strengths as a writer to convince the newspaper to hire me.

See also: off, work