buy off

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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. They must have bought off the city council members. How else could they get their environmentally dangerous plan approved so quickly?
See also: buy, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Enter Hamilton Bowen, the custom revolver maker who was one of the early 'smiths building the big Linebaughs in the days when you couldn't just buy one off the shelf.
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Maybe the most urgent is a call for Jackson district to scrap its uncompleted effort to write its own curriculum and quickly buy one off the shelf from an outside vendor.
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"I equate it to having a suit made: You can buy one off the rack, or you can go to a tailor and get fitted--the high-end customer wants theirs to be fitted."
CATERING TO THE High-End CUSTOMER: High-end customers are both a boon and a blessing. They think nothing of dropping substantial dollars on a classic or collectible gun, and they can add an order of magnitude to your bottom line
If you are truly PokAaAaAeA@-crazed, you can buy one off of (https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Pokemon-Plus-Not-Machine-Specific/dp/B01H482N6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474029769&sr=8-1&keywords=pokemon+go+plu Amazon .
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"If you do want to get a dog, go to a reputable animal sanctuary - never buy one off the internet."
DANGER DOGS SOLD ON THE WEB; AAttttaacckkss rriissee aass oowwnneerrss sseellll oonn ''ssttaattuuss'' aanniimmaallss JADE WRIGHT takes a closer look at the dramatic rise in the number of dog attacks in Merseyside and the risks posed by passing them on to new homes
We'll be able to buy one off a Hyundai dealer's carpet in 2015.
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For the first time non-Zephyr users can do free deal searches and instantly buy one off deal reports.
Bureau van Dijk launches a new M&A portal
I said, 'They're lovely, big National Hunt stores, but we've nothing to be cracking on with.' "So he gave us an order to buy one off the Flat to go hurdling.
BEGINNER'S LUCK! FRIDAY 13TH MARCH RACE 1 1.30 JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE 2m 1f Novice trainer Alan Fleming is ready for his first Festival.. and it could be a week to remember. He handles leading Triumph Hurdle fancy Starluck, so get ready for The Rookie v The Bookie, Round 1
"When Pailton realised they needed a new heat treatment facility they didn't just buy one off the shelf - they thoroughly researched it and went out there to make sure they purchased exactly the right piece of equipment for their needs," he said.
MANUFACTURING: Pailton just Accelerates to double its productivity
I thought what a shame and went over to buy one off her, when I noticed that she was about seven or eight months pregnant.
Letter: Street seller
Retailers throughout Coventry have no idea when game fans will be able to buy one off the shelves and are still reserving them for customers.
Waiting game addicts dying for a Wii
"You can't buy one off the shelf and expect that it will work for you," he says.
The save yourself survival kit
All Maserati models are built to order so you can't just walk in and buy one off the floor.
Cars for connoisseurs: pricey wheels combine top style, with performance to match
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