buy off
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To pay off, convince to refrain etc. by corrupt payment or other service.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Đưa hối lộ để thuyết phục ngừng hoặc làm gì đó
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Then, Sir, as to Bribery and Corruption at Elections ... every Elector has a natural Byass to vote for one Man rather than another, and every Elector will vote according to his natural Byass, if he is not bought off: whoever endeavours to buy him off, must certainly come up to his Price, and this Pr
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To gain release for (a person) from military service by payment of money.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “buy off” mean?
To pay off, convince to refrain etc. by corrupt payment or other service.
Is “buy off” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.