see off

see off (third-person singular simple present sees off, present participle seeing off, simple past saw off, past participle seen off)

1. To accompany someone to a point of departure; to ensure someone departs safely.

   Many friends came to see me off.

   • 1939 July, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 20:

     During the interval my friend, who was seeing me off, observing a wheel-tapper at his work, and having the incredulity which decides that there can be no practical outcome of this mysterious operation, asked me what did happen if the wheel-tapper discovered anything amiss.

2. (British) To defeat; to get rid of.

   A salesman came to my door, but the dogs soon saw him off.

   • 2011 October 15, Owen Phillips, “Stoke 2 - 0 Fulham”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Jon Walters and Rory Delap scored late goals as Stoke continued their unbeaten home start by seeing off Fulham with a dominant second-half display.

   • 2023 February 22, Howard Johnston, “Southern '313s': is the end now in sight?”, in RAIL, number 977, page 40:

     Only four units (455704/726/736/740) are yet scrapped, but the new Class 701s will soon see them all off.