pay off

If effort or a plan succeeds, it produces good results and is worth the time or cost.

• Your hard work will pay off.
• All that practice paid off during the match.
• Did their new strategy pay off?

Similar words: succeed, bear fruit

Opposites: fail

Common phrases: pay off eventually, pay off handsomely

To return all the money you owe for a loan or debt.

• I paid off my loan.
• They are saving to pay the mortgage off.
• Have you paid off your credit card debt?

How to use it: pay off something (She paid off her student loan.); pay something off (We hope to pay it off next year.)

Similar words: repay, settle, clear

Common phrases: pay off debt, pay off a loan, pay off a mortgage

To finish paying a loan for something, so the lender no longer has a claim on it.

• We paid off our car.
• She finally paid the house off this spring.
• How long will it take to pay off the boat?

How to use it: pay off something (They paid off the house after twenty years.); pay something off (We paid the car off last month.)

Similar words: pay for completely

Common phrases: pay off a car, pay off a house

To give someone money secretly so they help you or ignore something wrong.

• They paid off the guard.
• Someone had paid the witness off before the trial.
• Did the owner pay off the inspectors?

How to use it: pay someone off (They paid the guard off to avoid an inspection.)

Similar words: bribe, buy off

Common phrases: pay off someone, pay off officials

To end someone’s employment and give them the money they are owed.

• The factory paid off its workers.
• They paid the crew off at the end of the voyage.
• Will the firm pay off more staff after the closure?

How to use it: pay someone off (The company paid its temporary workers off when the project ended.)

Similar words: dismiss, lay off

Opposites: hire

Common phrases: pay off workers, pay off staff, pay off someone

If a sailing boat does this, its front turns away from the direction the wind comes from.

• The yacht began to pay off.
• The bow paid off as the wind changed.
• Let the boat pay off before adjusting the sail.

Similar words: bear away, fall off

Opposites: head up

Common phrases: pay off slowly, pay off to leeward