# polish off

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/polish-off
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To finish completely, especially a food (polish the plate with one's tongue) or liquor.

## Examples

- He polished off the whole pizza in ten minutes.
- After the long hike, the kids polished off their sandwiches and asked for more.
- The guests had polished off the last of the wine by midnight, leaving only empty bottles and scattered corks on the terrace.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.