buy off

pay someone secretly so they will not stop you or tell others

C1

What does "buy sb off" mean?

To buy someone off is to pay them — usually secretly and illegally — so that they stop opposing you, stay silent, or look the other way. The payment is essentially a tool of control: the person receiving the money is in a position to cause problems for the payer, whether as a witness, an inspector, a regulator, or a critic, and the money is intended to neutralise that threat. The phrase always carries a strong implication of corruption or dishonesty — there is no neutral or innocent use of 'buy off'. It is most at home in journalistic, legal, and political language, where writers describe how powerful individuals, corporations, or criminal organisations manipulate those who should hold them accountable. The particle 'off' is key to the meaning: it conveys the idea of removing or pushing away a threat, rather than simply making a payment.

Examples

How to use it

subject + buy off + person

The most common structure, with the object immediately after the particle — natural when the object is a short noun phrase.

The construction firm bought off the building inspectors to hide the structural flaws.

subject + buy + person + off

Separation is common with short noun phrases and sounds equally natural in most contexts.

The cartel bought the judge off before the case ever reached the courtroom.

subject + buy + pronoun + off

When the object is a pronoun, separation is obligatory — the pronoun must come before 'off'.

The officials were suspicious at first, but the developer managed to buy them off.

person + be bought off

The passive is natural and frequently used in journalism and legal reporting, shifting the focus onto the person who was bribed.

Several key witnesses were bought off before they had the chance to testify.

try/attempt/manage to + buy off + person

Infinitive constructions after verbs of attempt or success are very common, often adding context about whether the bribery was successful.

The executive attempted to buy off the auditors, but the scheme was uncovered by investigators.

Common Collocations

local officialswitnessesjudgesregulatorspoliticianscritics

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'buy off' with 'buy out'

'Buy out' refers to a legitimate commercial transaction — purchasing someone's share in a business. 'Buy off' always implies corrupt or unethical intent. Using them interchangeably will significantly change the meaning of your sentence.

✗ The company decided to buy out the regulator to avoid the fine.
✓ The company decided to buy off the regulator to avoid the fine.
Using the present continuous tense

'Buy off' describes a deliberate, typically completed act of corruption, so the present continuous sounds unnatural. Use the simple past, present perfect, or an infinitive construction instead.

✗ The politician is buying off the journalists as we speak.
✓ The politician has been buying off journalists for years.
Placing a pronoun after the particle

When the object is a pronoun, it must come between 'buy' and 'off', not after the particle. Placing it after 'off' is a common error for learners used to keeping phrasal verbs together.

✗ They tried to buy off them before the investigation started.
✓ They tried to buy them off before the investigation started.

Usage

This phrasal verb is formal and most common in journalism, legal language, and political contexts. It is rarely used in casual speech — in conversation, people are more likely to say 'bribe' or 'pay off'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'buy off' always mean something corrupt or illegal?

Yes — 'buy off' virtually always implies unethical or illegal intent. It is not a neutral term for making a payment or reaching a financial agreement. If the transaction is legitimate, a different phrase would be used.

Is 'buy off' used in spoken English, or mainly in writing?

It is much more common in written English — particularly in journalism, legal documents, and political commentary. In everyday conversation, most speakers would say 'bribe' or 'pay off' instead. If you use 'buy off' in casual speech, it will sound quite formal.

What kinds of people can be 'bought off'?

The object of 'buy off' is almost always someone in a position of authority, oversight, or potential opposition — judges, witnesses, inspectors, regulators, politicians, journalists, or rivals. The person needs to be in a position where they could cause problems for the one doing the bribing.

Can 'buy off' be used without naming the person being bribed?

No — 'buy off' always requires a human object to be grammatically complete and meaningful. You need to state or clearly imply who is being paid. If no object is given, the sentence will feel incomplete.

What is the difference between 'buy off' and 'pay off' when both mean bribery?

'Pay off' in a bribery context focuses on the transactional aspect — handing over money as a reward or settlement. 'Buy off' more specifically emphasises the goal of neutralising opposition or silencing someone. In practice, they overlap, but 'buy off' more strongly conveys the idea of removing a threat.

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