Advertisement
Advertisement
snuff out
Extinguish, put a sudden end to, as in Three young lives were snuffed out in that automobile accident . This usage alludes to snuff in the sense of “put out a candle by pinching the wick,” an area itself called snuff from the late 1300s on. [Mid-1800s]
Kill, murder, as in If he told the police, the gang would snuff him out . [ Slang ; first half of 1900s]
Also, snuff it . Die or be killed, as in He looked very ill indeed, as though he might snuff out any day , or Grandpa just snuffed it . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
When the goonies discover their hiding place, the Fratellis plot to snuff out this loose end, causing them to literally dig deeper into the house with the criminals hot on their trail.
This has some people fearful he will declare a national emergency and martial law that day, or shortly thereafter, to snuff out any resistance to his authoritarian regime.
But just when the promise of more was on the horizon, Selena’s light was snuffed out.
The Birmingham fighter's bright start was snuffed out by Brady, with Edwards giving up position on the ground and shooting for his own ill-advised takedown at one stage.
A whisper here, a wink there; it all goes inside the bottomless black bag, meant to snare and snuff out interpersonal mysteries before they become marital weaknesses.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
