write off

write someone/something off

to decide that someone or something is not important. Most critics wrote him off as a minor artist until he received that huge grant. Everyone had pretty much written off the team after they lost their tournament last week. Americans no longer dream of their children becoming president — in fact, many write it off as not worth the effort.

See also: write

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write off something

1. to accept that a debt will not be paid. Last year the bank wrote off $17 million in bad loans. I'll probably never see the money I loaned my brother, so I guess I'll write it off.

2. to decide that something will not be successful. For a long time, both political parties have written off the Greens. Since they behave oddly, people tend to write them off as weirdos, but many members of the group are important business people.

3. to charge something as a business expense. You can write off your cell phone and all the costs of service for it. I'm giving the furniture to a local church and writing it off as a donation.

See also: write