The Collaborative International Dictionary
Polish \Pol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polished; p. pr. & vb. n. Polishing.] [F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish]
To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc.
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Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners.
--Milton.To polish off, to finish completely, as an adversary. [Slang]
--W. H. Russell.
Usage examples of "to polish off".
Or Gretchen Scheffler, who has come with her baker to polish off our Christmas goose, is sitting on it.
Carsethorn verified that he did go to some place or other fifteen miles from Thornden on Saturday afternoon, but we've only got his word for it that he didn't get home till eight because he stopped at his office in Bellingham on his way, to polish off some job he had on hand.
General expectation that some attempt will now be made to invade England, if only as a diversion, while Germany and Italy endeavour to polish off France.