Definition of the word kill off

The phrase "kill off" is a figurative expression that originated in the 1930s, primarily in the context of soap operas. Soap operas were and still are a popular genre of daytime TV drama, especially among women. The usage of "kill off" in this context refers to the forced death of a character in a soap opera. In the early days of these shows, networks decided to kill off popular characters to generate more drama and suspense in the plot. This strategy often caused an outcry from fans, who would then stop watching the show in protest. The term "kill off" has since spread beyond the world of soap operas and is now commonly used to indicate the end or cancellation of something. Today, you can hear people say, "They killed off the company's finance department last year," or "The government is planning to kill off funding for this project." By using this term, speakers are invoking the sense of drama and finality that comes with killing off a character in a soap opera. It helps them convey that the particular entity being discussed has been effectively put out of commission.