verb

off

To kill someone, informally.

The detective suspects someone plans to off the witness.

Etymology

Off ordinarily marks removal or departure. The slang verb uses that removal as a blunt euphemism for eliminating people by killing them.

More examples

  • The villain threatens to off his partner.
  • The gangster was offed in the film.
  • She overhears a plot to off the informant.

Forms

off · offs · offed · offing

Similar words

kill
The neutral verb; off is informal slang.