buy off

buy off

To pay someone to coerce them into doing something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "buy" and "off." Don't worry, the doorman won't say anything—I bought him off. Her campaign for mayor will be ruined if the public learns how many people she's bought off over the years.
See also: buy, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

buy someone off

to bribe someone to ignore what one is doing wrong. Do you think you can buy her off? The mobster tried to buy off the jury.
See also: buy, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

buy off

Pay to get rid of a claim or opposition, or to avoid prosecution, as in He was caught trying to buy off the opposing candidate. [First half of 1600s]
See also: buy, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

buy off

v.
To bribe someone in order to ensure cooperation: I didn't get a speeding ticket because I bought off the police officer. The mobster avoided jail by buying the judge off.
See also: buy, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • identify with
  • attune to
  • ask back
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
  • involved with
References in periodicals archive
In a new bid to buy off enough rebels to secure victory, Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, was today promising a review of top up fees and their effect in 2009, three years after their introduction.
Is Blair ready to step down?
LIVERPOOL MP Louise Ellman has warned Consignia that they cannot buy off closure-threatened city sub-post offices.
Talks plea over post offices
BRIBE 'N' GLOOM Max tries to buy off Callum in EastEnders
We love telly: WE LOVE SOAPS
Major was forced to buy off rebel Tories and even risked the Northern Ireland peace process by trying to fix a last-minute deal with Ulster Unionists.
Major scrapes it
"Our message is don't self prescribe and buy off the internet.
Warning on fake drugs
As Blair's chief peace process "fixer", Powell has helped to buy off loyalist and republican paramilitaries alike.
Jonathan Powell
Money won't cure it either - you can't buy off superbugs.
IRISH DAILY Mirror: Pay more for clean sweep
THE Government will not "buy off" any loyalist groups, Secretary of State Peter Hain pledged yesterday.
Hain rejects loyalist cash; IMC: THE VERDICT
Warren Simson, 20, of Surbiton, Surrey, Jonathan Vickers, 18, of South Shields, and Lain Highland, 21, of Notts, were found guilty of indecent exposure and allowed to buy off the sentence for about pounds 400 each.
JAIL FOR STREAK
And they dismissed the offer of a pounds 49million lifeline for the Birmingham business as a possible attempt to buy off a future official inquiry.
Your Money: Rover taken Four a ride; UNION BLASTS CAR BOSSES
Aslef president Dave Tyson denied an attempt to buy off Mr Brady - who is fighting his dismissal.
'I snubbed Aslef cash'
A Greek court convicted Thomas Rogers, 25, of Alloway, Ayr, of carrying out a sex attack on the woman, but allowed him to buy off the rest of his sentence.
Hols sex attacker is freed
BRITAIN and America will offer to buy off Russia's support for military action against Iraq, Tony Blair admitted last night.
Russian 'buy-off'
So Leicester will have to buy off Collymore, whose bust-up with young team-mate Trevor Benjamin during a reserve game last week was the final straw for fed-up Taylor.
Football: Stan wins pay-off to leave City