kill off

kill off

1. To kill or eradicate someone or something in large numbers. A noun or pronoun can be used between "kill" and "off." Hey, we're only trying to kill off the weeds here—be careful around my flowers!
2. To kill a character in a work of fiction. A noun or pronoun can be used between "kill" and "off." I can't believe they killed off my favorite character in the season finale.
3. To end or remove something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "kill" and "off." We were supposed to go to the water park today, but the kids killed that off with their repeated temper tantrums. Can we do anything to kill off this smoky smell?
See also: kill, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

killed (off)

mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. (Drugs.) The team went out drinking and came home killed off.
See also: killed, off
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • killed off
  • killed outright
  • outright
  • kill outright
  • be in at the kill
  • kill one to warn a hundred
  • warn
  • (one) will kill (someone)
  • have (some) time to kill
  • have time to kill
References in periodicals archive
But the author has revealed he has no plans to kill off the star of his detective books.
Rebus is spared a grisly demise
Now a public and voluntary sector partnership hopes a hard-hitting campaign, launched today, will kill off the trade once and for all.
Taking fight to sex trade; WOLVERHAMPTON
But other cast members are said to be so keen for a movie that they are coming up with plans to kill off Samantha.
Samantha must die, say actors
To kill off one of the characters is an emotional wrench.
My view
The petition which been signed by more than 35,000 fans reads, "The writers of Family Guy didn't just kill off one of their creations, they killed off the dog who has lived in our homes for the last 15 years." They killed the dog we all have come to love.
'Family Guy' Death Spoiler: Biggest Proof That Brian Is Not Coming back
Traders in Park View, Whitley Bay, are outraged at plans to charge customers to park on the street, saying it will kill off shops.
Petition over parking meters
JK Rowling is poised to kill off Harry Potter, it has been claimed.
Will Harry Potter be potted
While some people believe that drinking alcohol can kill off a budding infection, Smith notes that drinking may actually make some bacteria more powerful and speed along a nascent infection.--C.B.
Alcohol increases bacterium's virulence
IAN RANKIN may kill off one his Rebus stalwarts - because the character's namesake has retired.
Rankin's farewell to Johns
Cymdeithas Education spokesperson Ffred Ffransis said education of-ficers appeared to believe they had been given a licence to kill off Welsh-medium village schools in Carmarthenshire.
Around Wales: Carmarthenshire
"Our biggest challenge is to learn how to kill off teams," said Keane.
Football: ROY'S KILLER INSTINCTS; Keane: We have class to triumph over Portugal
He has renounced violence and in his own words wants to 'kill off Charles Bronson'."
Bronson art going under the hammer
One standard approach to curing cancer is to kill off malignant cells, and doctors consider their treatment a success when no cancerous cells remain.
Dormant cancer: lack of a protein sends tumor cells to bed
READ with relief this week that the producers of EastEnders have decided to kill off that vinegar-faced frumpbag Laura, who will die at the hands of evil Janine next week.
Lucy Sweet: EastEnders' Laura
WOLVES' FA Cup double act of George Ndah and Kenny Miller came up trumps again to kill off the threat of plucky Third Division Rochdale and send Dave Jones' side into the quarter-finals.
FOOTBALL: DOUBLE ACT; Wolves............. 3 Rochdale ........... 1