What does the phrasal verb “finish off” mean?

What are the definitions of “finish off”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Finish completely.

  They FINISHED OFF all the chocolates and had to go to the all - night garage to buy some more.

• 2. Kill a person or animal, often when they have already been hurt.

  The animal was badly hurt, so they FINISHED it OFF to end its suffering.

• 3. Beat, make victory certain in sport.

  The second goal FINISHED them OFF.

• 4. Consume all.

  We FINISHED OFF the coffee and had to get some more.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “finish off”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb finish off is to complete something or use up all of something. For example, it can mean eating all the food on your plate, using up all the supplies, or finishing a task completely.

What are the different verb forms of “finish off”?

Root Verb	finish off
Third Person Singular Present	finishes off
Present Participle	finishing off
Simple Past	finished off
Past Participle	finished off

Example

I need to finish off this report before the deadline.

Example

She finishes off her homework every night before watching TV.

Example

He is finishing off the last slice of pizza.

Example

They finished off the project last week.

Example

The cake has been finished off by the guests.

What kind of phrasal verb is “finish off”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“finish off” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

She finished off her meal quickly.

Example

He finished the project off in record time.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“finish off” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

She finished off her meal quickly.

Example

He finished the project off in record time.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “finish off”?

Finish off with

To end or conclude something with a specific action or event.

Example

After the main course, we finished off with a delicious dessert.

Finish someone off

To defeat or eliminate someone, often in a competition or game.

Example

The final question in the quiz finished them off, and they lost the game.

Finish something off for good

To put an end to something permanently.

Example

The new regulations finished off the old industry for good.

Good things to know

Does “finish off” have an informal or formal tone?

Finish off is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, depending on the specific context.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “finish off”?

Synonyms

• complete
• consume
• exhaust
• deplete
• end
• finalize
• use up
• terminate
• conclude
• wrap up

Antonyms

• begin
• start
• initiate
• commence
• introduce
• launch
• create
• establish