to polish off

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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Polish \Pol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polished; p. pr. & vb. n. Polishing.] [F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish]

1.To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc. [1913 Webster]

2.Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

To polish off, to finish completely, as an adversary. [Slang] --W. H. Russell. [1913 Webster]

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