dispose of (someone or something)
1. To eliminate someone or something; to get rid of someone or something. The CEO is apt to dispose of any manager who does not agree with him all the time. After our basement flooded, we had to dispose of most of the boxes we'd stored down there. The mayor is quick to dispose of anyone in Town Hall who questions his decisions.
2. To settle or resolve something. Jean is the best editor in the writing center, so she'll definitely dispose of any issues in your paper. You're both excellent baseball players. Now, can we finally dispose of this argument once and for all? A: "You know, moving them to different cubicles is not going to dispose of their problems with each other." B: "No, but it buys me time to come up with a better game plan!"
3. To relocate, sell, or give something away. Once I move into the city, I'll need to dispose of my car. If you want to dispose of that table, post about it online—I'm sure someone would be willing to take it off your hands. I disposed of my old textbooks by giving them to underclassmen.
4. slang To kill someone. We need to dispose of the informant before he goes running to the police again. If you betray this guy, he won't think twice about having one of his thugs dispose of you! Don't worry, I'll dispose of that guy before he's ever able to out our operation.
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