snuff out

present singular third person snuffs out · participle present snuffing out · participle past snuffed out · past snuffed out

1. transitiveTo extinguish (literally, especially by physically covering or rubbing); to extinguish (figuratively): to stop (a process), to kill (a process).

   Near-synonym: smother

   5 more examples

   The risk of fire was an ever-present danger, and every night at bedtime they performed the ritual of checking that every candle and lantern had been snuffed out.

   He sighed, snuffed out his cigarette, and got back to work.

   He sighed, snuffed out his wish to walk right out the door, and got back to work.

   Elmander's lovely flick nearly set Taylor free inside the box but, this time, Boswinga reacted well to snuff out any real danger.

   2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC

   2017 August 25, Aukkarapon Niyomyat & Panarat Thepgumpanat, "Thai junta seeks Yingluck's arrest as former PM skips court verdict", in reuters.com, Reuters The verdict against Yingluck is widely seen as having the potential to reignite tensions, though the junta has largely snuffed out open opposition.

   Synonyms: smother

2. slangtransitiveTo kill a living being.

   He sighed, stifled his urge to snuff out the moron who designed this work process, and got back to work.

   Synonyms: rub out, annihilate, bag, baptize, bereave of life, blight, bring down, bump off

3. intransitiveslangTo die.

   People snuff out at all ages: accident apart, our vital clocks vary […]