- Have you ever wondered if “killing time” sounds too violent for a business meeting?
- Are you unsure whether to say “turn off the lights” or “kill the lights”?
- Do you want to sound more like a native speaker by using “kill” in its metaphorical sense?
Mastering collocations with the word “kill” is essential for reaching a high level of English fluency. While its literal meaning involves causing death, in modern English, “kill” is most frequently used metaphorically to describe stopping an action, managing time, or even achieving great success. Understanding these word pairings helps reduce language anxiety by ensuring you use the right intensity and context in every conversation.
Common Collocations with KILL as a Verb
1. Managing Time and Efforts
In daily English, “kill” is often used to describe how we handle time or specific tasks.
- Kill time: To do something while waiting for something else. Example: “I had an hour before my flight, so I killed time by browsing the bookstore.”
- Kill two birds with one stone: To accomplish two different things at the same time. Example: “By biking to work, I kill two birds with one stone: I get exercise and save money on gas.”
- Kill a project/deal: To stop or cancel something before it is finished. Example: “The management decided to kill the project due to a lack of funding.”
2. Controlling Machines and Sensations
We use “kill” to describe the sudden cessation of a physical process or feeling.
- Kill the engine: To turn off a vehicle’s motor. Example: “Please kill the engine while you wait in the driveway.”
- Kill the lights: To turn off the lights quickly. Example: “Kill the lights! We want the surprise party to be a secret.”
- Kill the pain: To stop physical suffering using medicine. Example: “These tablets should kill the pain within twenty minutes.”
- Kill the sound/volume: To mute or turn off audio. Example: “Can you kill the volume? I need to take this phone call.”
3. Social and Emotional Contexts
These collocations describe the impact someone has on an atmosphere or a person’s feelings.
- Kill the mood: To say or do something that ruins a positive or romantic atmosphere. Example: “Bringing up work politics really killed the mood at dinner.”
- Kill the suspense: To reveal a secret or the end of a story. Example: “Don’t kill the suspense; tell us who won the game!”
- Kill someone’s spirit: To destroy someone’s enthusiasm or hope. Example: “The constant criticism began to kill his creative spirit.”
4. Modern Slang and Success
In 2024, “kill” is frequently used in a highly positive, informal way.
- Killing it: To be doing something extremely well. Example: “You were amazing on stage today—you were absolutely killing it!”
- Kill for (something): To want something very badly. Example: “It’s so hot outside; I would kill for a cold glass of water.”
Essential Collocations using KILL as a Noun
While less common than the verb form, “kill” as a noun appears in specific idiomatic and technical contexts.
1. Success and Competition
- Make a killing: To make a large amount of money very quickly. Example: “She made a killing on the stock market last year.”
- In for the kill: To be ready to finish a task or defeat an opponent. Example: “The lawyer saw the witness was sweating and moved in for the kill.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Kill time | Verb Phrase | To pass time while waiting |
| Kill the engine | Verb Phrase | To turn off a motor |
| Make a killing | Noun Phrase | To earn a lot of money fast |
| Kill the mood | Verb Phrase | To ruin the atmosphere |
| Kill the pain | Verb Phrase | To stop physical discomfort |
| Killing it | Verb (Idiomatic) | Performing excellently |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Close the engine. | Kill the engine. |
| I want to pass the time by playing games. | I want to kill time by playing games. (More idiomatic) |
| The movie killed my interest. | The movie killed the suspense. (Specific to context) |
| He made a big money. | He made a killing. |
“I had a few hours to kill time before my big presentation, so I sat in the park. I knew I had to kill the suspense for my team, so I sent a quick text saying the deal was approved. I felt like I was killing it lately, especially after we made a killing on the last merger. When I finally got in my car, I decided to kill the engine and just enjoy the silence for a moment before heading home.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Kill Collocations
Is “killing it” appropriate for formal business emails?
No, “killing it” is highly informal slang. While it is positive, it is better suited for verbal praise among colleagues or casual messages. In formal emails, use “performing exceptionally” or “exceeding expectations.”
What is the difference between “kill time” and “waste time”?
“Kill time” is usually neutral; it means you are doing something to make the time go by while waiting. “Waste time” is negative; it implies you are using time unproductively when you should be doing something important.
Can I use “kill” for electrical appliances?
Does “kill the pain” only apply to physical pain?
Primarily, yes. It is used in medical contexts (painkillers). For emotional distress, we more commonly use “numb the pain” or “ease the sorrow.”
What does “kill off” mean?
“Kill off” usually refers to a writer deciding that a character in a book or TV show will die. It can also mean to eliminate something gradually, like “killing off the competition.”
'Kill the lights' is very common here too, but 'kill time' still feels a bit dramatic to me sometimes. I guess it's just about getting used to it. The 'kill two birds' one is brilliant for efficiency!
I often find myself translating phrases directly from Irish, and sometimes they work, sometimes they really don't! This article makes me think about how many verbs have such extended, non-literal meanings in English.
Are there any situations where using 'kill' metaphorically could still sound too aggressive or out of place? For example, in very formal business writing, would 'kill a project' be acceptable, or would 'terminate' be preferred?
I'm a teacher, and I'll definitely be sharing this article with my advanced students. The focus on context and reducing anxiety is spot on for encouraging real-world communication skills.
That's wonderful to hear, Olivia! We're thrilled that our content can be a valuable resource for both learners and educators. Helping students navigate these common but sometimes tricky metaphorical uses is key to building confidence and achieving higher fluency. Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for explaining the nuance of 'kill.' It's hard to learn these from textbooks alone. I will try to use 'kill time' in my next conversation!
These types of articles are gold for intermediate learners like me. I always struggle with choosing the right word when there are multiple options that seem similar. 'Kill the lights' makes perfect sense now!
So, if I say, 'I need to kill the sound system,' it would be understood as 'turn off the sound system,' right? Just trying to confirm my understanding of 'kill' meaning 'stop an action' with another example.
Referring back to Ahmed's question, I'd also love to hear an example of 'kill' meaning 'achieving great success.' The summary mentioned it, but it wasn't elaborated in the main examples. It sounds counterintuitive, but fascinating!
I'm curious about the origin of 'kill time.' It feels like such a strong verb for such a mundane activity. Does anyone know when this phrase first started being used this way?
Great point about reducing language anxiety. It's often the metaphorical uses that trip up advanced learners the most. Focusing on these specific word pairings is a brilliant strategy for fluency.