pay off

英 [ˈpeɪ ɒf]

美 [ˈpeɪ ɔːf]

偿清，还清（债务）; 还清欠…的钱; 用钱打发; 成功; 赢利

柯林斯词典

PHRASAL VERB 偿清，还清（债务）
If youpay offa debt, you give someone all the money that you owe them.
1. It would take him the rest of his life to pay off that loan.
  他得用余生来还清那笔贷款。
PHRASAL VERB 还清债务；用钱打发
If youpay offsomeone, you give them the amount of money that you owe them or that they are asking for, so that they will not take action against you or cause you any trouble.
1. ...his bid to raise funds to pay off his creditors...
  他为还清债款而努力筹集资金
2. In societies where corruption is endemic, decision-making is slowed as more politicians and officials have to be paid off.
  在腐败泛滥的社会中，由于要花钱打点更多的政客和官员，决策的制定会被拖慢。
PHRASAL VERB 成功；赢利
If an actionpays off, it is successful or profitable after a period of time.
1. Sandra was determined to become a doctor and her persistence paid off.
  桑德拉决心成为医生，她的坚持取得了成功。
See also:payoff

verb

take vengeance on or get even
1. We'll get them!
2. That'll fix him good!
3. This time I got him
Synonym:pay backgetfix
do or give something to somebody in return
1. Does she pay you for the work you are doing?
Synonym:paymake upcompensate
pay off (loans or promissory notes)
Synonym:redeem
pay someone with influence in order to receive a favor
Synonym:buy off
yield a profit or result
1. His efforts finally paid off
eliminate by paying off (debts)
Synonym:liquidate

She used most of the money to pay off her overdraft.
她把这钱的大部分都用来偿付她的透支款了。
No matter how, pay off your debts first.
无论如何，你都要先把债还清了。
No bank could ever pay off its creditors if they all demanded their money at once
如果所有的储户同时要求提取存款，没有哪家银行能办得到。
In societies where corruption is endemic, decision-making is slowed as more politicians and officials have to be paid off.
在腐败泛滥的社会中，由于要花钱打点更多的政客和官员，决策的制定会被拖慢。
It took them one year to pay off the mortgage.
他们花了一年付清抵押贷款。
Already, this investment began to pay off.
这些投资已经看到回报了。
He managed to pay off his debts in two years.
他设法在两年内还清了债务。
Sandra was determined to become a doctor and her persistence paid off.
桑德拉决心成为医生，她的坚持取得了成功。
It took Tom five months to pay off the bill he owed the baker.
汤姆花了五个月时间还清了他欠面包商的账单。
It is far better to pay off old debts steadily by living within your means.
量入为出地一步步偿还旧债，这个方法要好得多。