english
1
general::
kill sth off
[ M ]
to destroy something completely, usually over a period of time
• The use of pesticides is killing off birds, fish and wildlife.
• figurative: Lack of funding is killing off small theatres.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
verb
murder:
They will kill him for money.
verb
defeated:
The bill was killed in Congress.
Simple Definitions
3
general::
verb ADV. outright He has fought more than fifty bulls, killing three outright. | almost, nearly | instantly | accidentally | unlawfully VERB + KILL want to | be prepared to They are quite prepared to kill to achieve their ends. | threaten to | be going to, intend to (figurative) Mum's going to kill me when she finds out. | plot to plotting to kill the dictator | try to | help (to) | make sb It must have been really awful to make her kill herself. PHRASES admit/deny killing sb, be accused of killing sb, be charged with killing sb, be killed in sth soldiers killed in battle | be tragically killed Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident., noun ADJ. easy, quick VERB + KILL make The lion made a quick kill. | be in at I didn't even get to see the fox, let alone be in at the kill. | close in for, move in for The hunters moved in for the kill. PREP. at the ~ The meat is divided up among all those present at the kill. | for the ~ The animal crouched down, getting ready for the kill.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with KILL, Also see CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT; DRESSED TO KILL; FIT TO KILL; IN AT THE DEATH (KILL); LADY KILLER; MAKE A KILLING; RUN OUT (KILL) THE CLOCK.
American Heritage Idioms
5
general::
kill
to make someone die:
• The driver and his passenger were killed in the crash. • He was killed by rival gang members.
murder
to deliberately kill someone – used when talking about this as a crime:
• He was convicted of murdering his wife.
commit manslaughter
to kill someone without intending to – used when talking about this as a crime:
• The court ruled that the guard had committed manslaughter.
assassinate
to deliberately kill an important person, especially a politician:
• He was part of a plot to assassinate Hitler.
slay
to kill someone or something in a violent way – used in newspaper reports and also in old stories:
• Two teenagers were slain in the shootings. • St. George slew the dragon. • The king was slain at the battle of Hastings.
execute
formal ( also put somebody to death ) to kill someone as a punishment for a crime:
• McVeigh, who killed 168 people in a bombing attack, was executed by lethal injection.
eliminate
to kill someone in order to prevent them from causing trouble:
• a ruthless dictator who eliminated all his rivals
take somebody out
informal to kill someone in order to get rid of them, especially an enemy or someone who is causing trouble for you:
• US forces used air strikes to take out the enemy positions. • One of the other drug dealers may have decided to take him out.
bump somebody off
humorous informal to kill someone:
• He was so irritating I felt like bumping him off myself.
do away with somebody
informal to kill someone:
• The settlers in Jamestown had been done away with, but no one knew how.
to kill yourself
commit suicide
to kill yourself:
• He committed suicide after the death of his girlfriend.
take your own life
formal to kill yourself:
• He had taken his own life while he was severely depressed. • They believe that it is a sin to take your own life.
to kill a large number of people
massacre
to kill a large number of people in a violent way:
• Thousands of peaceful demonstrators were massacred by the soldiers.
slaughter
to kill a large number of people in a violent way. Slaughter is also used about killing animals for food:
• The army slaughtered thousands of civilians in an effort to stop the revolt. • The pigs were slaughtered on the farm.
exterminate
to kill large numbers of a particular group, so that they no longer exist:
• Hitler’s goal was to exterminate the Jews.
Longman-Thesaurus