skim something off (of) something
- skim something off (of) something
skim something off (of) something & skim something off†
1. Lit. to scoop something off the surface of something. (
Of
is usually retained before pronouns.) •
The cook skimmed the fat off the stew.
•
The cook skimmed off the fat.
2. Fig. to remove a portion of something of value, such as money, from an account. (
Of
is usually retained before pronouns.) •
The auditor was skimming a few dollars a day off the bank's cash flow.
•
Kelly skimmed off a few dollars each day.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
skim something off — ˌskim sth/sbˈoff derived to take for yourself the best part of sth, often in an unfair way • Private companies should not be allowed to skim off profitable sectors of the postal service. Main entry: ↑skimderived … Useful english dictionary
skim — [skım] v past tense and past participle skimmed present participle skimming [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Perhaps from scum to remove scum (14 19 centuries), from scum (noun)] 1.) [T] to remove something from the surface of a liquid, especially… … Dictionary of contemporary English
skim — [ skım ] verb 1. ) intransitive or transitive to move quickly over the surface of something, or to make something do this: We stood on the bridge watching swallows skimming the water. skim across/over: Water skiers skimmed across the bay. a )… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
skim off — verb 1. remove from the surface (Freq. 2) skim cream from the surface of milk • Syn: ↑skim, ↑cream off, ↑cream • See Also: ↑cream off (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
skim — [[t]skɪ̱m[/t]] skims, skimming, skimmed 1) VERB If you skim something from the surface of a liquid, you remove it. [V n off/from n] Rough seas today prevented specially equipped ships from skimming oil off the water s surface... [V n with off]… … English dictionary
skim — verb skimmed, skimming 1 (T) to remove floating fat or solids from the surface of a liquid: skim sth off/from: After simmering the meat and vegetables skim the fat from the surface. 2 (I, T) to read something quickly to find the main facts or… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
skim off something — skim off (something) to take something valuable. The colleges with very high standards skim off the best high school graduates. State and local governments skim tax money off the company s profits. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of skim… … New idioms dictionary
skim — /skim/, v., skimmed, skimming, n. v.t. 1. to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle: to skim the cream from milk. 2. to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk. 3. to move or glide lightly over or… … Universalium
skim off — (something) to take something valuable. The colleges with very high standards skim off the best high school graduates. State and local governments skim tax money off the company s profits. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of skim off (= to … New idioms dictionary
skim — UK [skɪm] / US verb Word forms skim : present tense I/you/we/they skim he/she/it skims present participle skimming past tense skimmed past participle skimmed 1) [transitive] to remove a substance that is floating on the surface of a liquid skim… … English dictionary
skim — [[t]skɪm[/t]] v. skimmed, skim•ming, n. 1) to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle 2) to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk[/ex] 3) to move or glide lightly over or along (a surface, as of… … From formal English to slang
