1
general::
1. Extinguish, put a sudden end to, as in Three young lives were snuffed out in that automobile accident. This usage alludes to snuff in the sense of "put out a candle by pinching the wick," an area itself called snuff from the late 1300s on. [Mid-1800s] 2. Kill, murder, as in If he told the police, the gang would snuff him out. [Slang; first half of 1900s] 3. Also, snuff it. Die or be killed, as in He looked very ill indeed, as though he might snuff out any day, or Grandpa just snuffed it. [Slang; second half of 1800s]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): snuff someone out
Sl. to kill someone. • Max really wanted to snuff the eyewiteness out, once and for all. • Lefty wanted to snuff out his partner., Phrase(s): snuff something out
to extinguish something, such as a flame. • She snuffed all the candles out and went to bed. • Karen snuffed out the flames one by one.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs