Pay off meaning in English

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Definition

to pay off (a judge): to bribe (a judge), to pay (a judge) to give a specific decision verb
Although there was a lot of evidence against him, he was found not guilty after paying off the judge.
a pay off: a bribe, a compensation, a buy off, a back-hander, a reward for treachery noun
to pay off (a debt, a loan): to pay the final payment of (a debt, a loan), to settle, to finish paying back (a debt, a loan) verb

Examples

  • "I suppose I'm stuck with the terms of these loans until they're completely paid off."
Exercise 1
Icarus mentions "outstanding loans" in his email. "A loan" is money .
In this context, an "outstanding loan" refers to a loan .
Icarus mentions "outstanding loans" in his email. "A loan" is money borrowed from the bank or elsewhere 1.
In this context, an "outstanding loan" refers to a loan which hasn't yet been paid off 2.
1 borrowed from the bank or elsewhere : A "loan" is a sum of money given or lent to an individual or a company from a lending institution, usually a bank. "Loans" are given with terms and conditions for repayment: the time frame for repayment, interest, etc. Note that a loan is not necessarily money, and not necessarily from a bank. For example, "my brother loaned me his leather jacket for my date".
1 placed in stocks and bonds: A "loan" is not money placed in stocks and bonds. Money placed in stocks and bonds are generally referred to as "investments".
1 charged for overdrawing an account: A "loan" is not the money charged for "overdrawing" an account. To "overdraw" an account means to withdraw or "take out" more money than exists in the account. Many banks charge a fee for overdrawing an account. These fees are called "overdraft" fees.
1 placed in real estate: Money placed in real estate is not called "a loan", however it is possible to take out a loan for an investment in real estate. "Real Estate" refers to the property industry: buying, selling, renting apartments and homes, developing land, etc.
1 given as a grant or subsidy: "Loans" are never "grants or "subsidies", which refer to sums of money given by the government or educational institutions to finance research projects, studies, etc. "Grants" and "subsidies" are generally given to qualified applicants who make a strong argument for the value of their research. Educational grants are often called "scholarships. A 'subsidy" is money which is given (generally by the government) in support of an enterprise regarded as being 'in the public interest"
2 which hasn't yet been paid off: The adjective "outstanding" has several meanings, however in a financial context, when we talk about "outstanding loans" or an "outstanding debt" we are referring to a loan which has not yet been paid, or fully reimbursed. The phrasal verb "to pay off" has two meanings: it means to fully pay a debt or loan, OR "to bribe", which is to pay someone (usually an authority) in exchange for a favor or service.
2 for overseas investments: An "outstanding loan" is unrelated to any overseas investments. Although a loan might be given to someone for "overseas investments" the term "outstanding" does not indicate this. "Overseas" is synonymous with "abroad" and refers to a location in a different country than that of the speaker uses as a point of reference.
2 for exceptional transactions: Although in a different context, "outstanding" can express the sense of "excellence" or even being "exceptional", in a financial context, the term expresses a very different meaning.
2 for customers with excellent credit: Although in a different context, "outstanding" can express the sense of "excellence", in a financial context, the term expresses a very different meaning.

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