pay off
[verb]
Synonyms:
- settle, clear, discharge, pay in full, square
- succeed, be effective, work

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

pay off phrasal verb (see also pay)

1. pay something ↔ off to give someone all the money you owe them:
I’ll pay off all my debts first.
He finally paid his overdraft off.

2. if something you do pays off, it is successful or has a good result:
Teamwork paid off.

3. pay somebody ↔ off British English to pay someone their wages and tell them they no longer have a job:
Two hundred workers have been paid off.

4. pay somebody ↔ off to pay someone not to say anything about something illegal or dishonest
⇒ payoff(2)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

pay off
pay off (someone)
to give someone money illegally to get them to do what you want.
The pair had paid off local police to protect their drug-selling operation.

pay off (something)
to pay all of a debt.
It took her six years to pay off her student loan.

I guess I can afford a new car, but it's a lot of money and it's not easy to pay it off.

to result in success.
I hope all this hard work pays off.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

pay off something
pay off (something)
to pay all of a debt.
It took her six years to pay off her student loan.

I guess I can afford a new car, but it's a lot of money and it's not easy to pay it off.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

pay off
1. • pay off
to succeed, to yield good results
I hope that our plans for the new business will pay off.

My risks in starting the new business finally paid off.

2. • pay off (someone)
• pay (someone) off
to pay someone a bribe for something
The owner of the store had to pay off the gang who were threatening him.

The man tried to pay off the customs agent to quickly get his products into the country.

3. • pay off (something)
to pay something in full and be free from a debt; to pay the final payment for something
She finally paid off her car loan so she now has some extra money to spend.

I paid off my student loan after one year of work.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

pay off something
• pay off (something)
to pay something in full and be free from a debt; to pay the final payment for something
She finally paid off her car loan so she now has some extra money to spend.

I paid off my student loan after one year of work.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

pay off
v. phr.
1. To pay the wages of.
The men were paid off just before quitting time, the last day before the holiday.
2. To pay and discharge from a job.
When the building was completed he paid off the laborers.
3. To hurt (someone) who has done wrong to you; get revenge on.
When Bob tripped Dick, Dick paid Bob off by punching him in the nose.
Synonym: PAY BACK.
4. informal To bring a return; make profit.
At first Mr. Harrison lost money on his investments, but finally one paid off.
5. informal To prove successful, rewarding, or worthwhile.
Ben's friendship with the old man who lived beside him paid off in pleasant hours and broadened interests.
John studied hard before the examination, and it paid off. He made an A.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲