work off

work off
phrasal verb [transitive]
Word forms "work off":
present tense I/you/we/they work off he/she/it works off present participle working off past tense worked off past participle worked off
1) to pay someone what you owe them by doing a job for them instead of giving them money

They were forced to work off their debts.

2) if you work off something such as a feeling or some of your weight, you get rid of it by doing something that involves a lot of physical activity

She generally works off her anger by going for a run.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • work off — {v.} To make (something) go away, especially by working. * /John worked off the fat around his waist by doing exercise every morning./ * /Mr. Smith worked off his anger by chopping wood./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • work off — {v.} To make (something) go away, especially by working. * /John worked off the fat around his waist by doing exercise every morning./ * /Mr. Smith worked off his anger by chopping wood./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • work off — transitive verb Date: 1662 to dispose of or get rid of by work or activity …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • work off — verb a) To lose (weight) by doing physical work. b) To end a debt by doing labor for the debt holder …   Wiktionary

  • To work off — Work Work (w[^u]rk), v. t. 1. To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor. [1913 Webster] He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Off 2 Work — Single by Dizzee Rascal A side Graftin Released 21 March 2005 2010 …   Wikipedia

  • Work — (w[^u]rk), v. t. 1. To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor. [1913 Webster] He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • off — /awf, of/, adv. 1. so as to be no longer supported or attached: This button is about to come off. 2. so as to be no longer covering or enclosing: to take a hat off; to take the wrapping off. 3. away from a place: to run off; to look off toward… …   Universalium

  • work — /werrk/, n., adj., v., worked or (Archaic except for 35, 37, 40) wrought; working. n. 1. exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil. 2. something on which exertion or labor is expended; a task or undertaking: The… …   Universalium

  • Off the Wall (album) — Off the Wall Studio album by Michael Jackson Released August 10, 1979 …   Wikipedia

  • Work aversion — Work aversion, Workplace aversion, or Employment aversion is a psychological behavior, often part of an anxiety disorder, in which the subject intentionally refuses to be gainfully employed at all, or works far less than is necessary in order to… …   Wikipedia

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