1
general::
Phrase(s): write someone or something off
to drop someone or something from consideration. • The manager wrote Tom off for a promotion. • I wrote off that piece of swampy land as worthless. It can’t be used for anything., Phrase(s): write off (to someone) (for something)
to send a written request for something away to someone. • I wrote off to my parents for some money, but I think they are ignoring me. • I wrote off for money. • I need money so I wrote off to my parents., Phrase(s): write something off
to absorb a debt or a loss in accounting. • The bill couldn’t be collected, so we had to write it off. • The bill was too large, and we couldn’t write off the amount. We decided to sue., Phrase(s): write someone or something off (as a something)
1. to give up on turning someone or something into something. • I had to write Jill off as a future executive. • The company wrote off the electric automobile as a dependable means of transportation. • He would never work out. We wrote him off. 2. to give up on someone or something as a dead loss, waste of time, hopeless case, etc. • Don’t write me off as a has-been. • We almost wrote off the investment as a dead loss. 3. to take a charge against one’s taxes. • Can I write this off as a deduction, or is it a dead loss? • Can I write off this expense as a tax deduction?, Phrase(s): write something off (on one’s taxes)
to deduct something from one’s income taxes. • Can I write this off on my income taxes? • I’ll write off this trip on my taxes. • Oh, yes! Write it off!
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Reduce an asset's book value to zero because it is worthless, as in The truck was wrecked completely, so we can write it off. [Late 1600s] 2. Cancel from an account as a loss, as in Since they'll never be able to pay back what they owe, let's just write off that debt. [Late 1800s] Also see CHARGE OFF, def. 2. 3. Regard as a failure or worthless, as in There was nothing to do but write off the first day of our trip because of the bad weather, or She resented their tendency to write her off as a mere housewife. [Late 1800s] 4. Amortize, as in We can write off the new computer network in two years or less. Also see CHARGE OFF, def. 2.
American Heritage Idioms