to pay someone what you owe them by doing a job for them instead of giving them money
They were forced to work off their debts.
Synonyms and related words
To pay, or to not pay money you owe
amortise
amortize
clear
2
if you work off something such as a feeling or some of your weight, you get rid of it by doing something that involves a lot of physical activity
She generallyworks off her anger by going for a run.
Synonyms and related words
Gaining and losing weight
fat camp
fatten up
fill out
work off
phrasal verb transitive
Other entries for this word
work your butt offphrase
work/laugh/run etc. your socks offphrase
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
work off
he/she/it
works off
present participle
working off
past tense
worked off
past participle
worked off
DEFINITIONS2
1
to pay someone what you owe them by doing a job for them instead of giving them money
They were forced to work off their debts.
Synonyms and related words
To pay, or to not pay money you owe
amortize
clear
compound
2
if you work off something such as a feeling or some of your weight, you get rid of it by doing something that involves a great deal of physical activity
She generallyworks off her anger by going for a run.