Phrasal verb
buy off
Meanings
To bribe someone to gain their cooperation or silence.
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To pay someone to stop making trouble or to drop a claim or complaint.
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Definition
To buy off someone is to give them money or benefits to stop them causing trouble or to get their cooperation.
To buy off someone means to persuade them with money, gifts, or other advantages, often so they stop opposing you or stay quiet. It commonly suggests bribery or an unethical deal rather than a fair agreement. It can also mean paying someone so they end a claim or dispute and go away.
Examples
- I refused to buy off the inspector with cash.
- They tried to buy off the witness, but she reported it immediately.
- The company offered to buy off the protesters with free tickets.
- He attempted to buy off his critics by offering them special access.
- We can’t just buy off our neighbor to ignore the noise.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "buy off" with "buy out"—"buy off" means bribing or paying to stop opposition, while "buy out" means purchasing someone’s share or business.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.