pay off

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Verb

pay off

1. (transitive, informal) To bribe, especially to deter oversight.

   I thought the guards would give us trouble, but apparently he had paid them off.

2. (intransitive) To become worthwhile; to produce a net benefit.

   Her years of Spanish classes finally paid off when she found herself in Mexico and realized she could communicate with people.

3. (transitive) To pay back; to repay.

   He paid off the loan three months early.

4. (transitive) To pay back repay, pay off the entirety of a loan, thereby effecting the release of a lien on.

   This contract requires you to pay off the car by 2025.

5. (nautical) To fall to leeward, as the head of a vessel under sail.

Translations

• French: soudoyer
• German: bestechen
• Russian: подкупа́ть
• Spanish: sobornar

Translations

• French: payer, porter ses fruits
• German: auszahlen, sich lohnen
• Portuguese: compensar
• Russian: окупа́ться
• Spanish: valer la pena, recompensar, salir a cuenta

Translations

• French: revaloir
• German: zurückzahlen, abzahlen
• Russian: выпла́чивать
• Spanish: pagar

Translations

• French: acquitter, payer
• German: auszahlen, abbezahlen
• Russian: выпла́чивать
• Spanish: pagar, cancelar

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