| 释义 |
ˈwrite-off
[f. the vbl. phr. to write off: see write v. 16.]
†1. A printed form with blanks for filling in with writing. Obs.
1752Beawes Lex Merc. Rediv. 363 No Money will be paid..without such a Draught, or what is called, a Write off. 1826in P. Auber Analysis, Suppl. (1828) 56 For every sum drawn out of the Bank of England, a write-off, or draft, shall be signed.
2. The cancellation from an account of a bad debt, worthless asset, etc.; an asset so treated; an amount cancelled or lost.
1905Daily Chron. 22 July 2/6 The write-off in respect of the short weight was inevitable. 1957Times Lit. Suppl. 20 Dec. 766/5 It is the point made earlier about the need for resources wherewith to make and replace the automation machines, the need for more rapid write-offs of those machines once installed, and the parallel need to ‘pay’ the machines more than normal machines have hitherto been ‘paid’. 1970K. Platt Pushbutton Butterfly vii. 72, I understand you are behind a movement called World Peace... A foundation... Good tax write-off. 1971Daily Tel. 26 Apr. 15/4 Above all, can share-holders..be given an analysis of write-offs and a pre-tax comparison for the two halves? 1978S. Sheldon Bloodline xxi. 243 The write-offs in our experimental laboratory. 1982S. Bellow Dean's December iv. 96 ‘Have you ever gotten a penny out of it?’ ‘I got tax write-offs.’ 1984Times 23 May 20/8 In competitor countries the comparison varies between one sort of asset and another but, in general, our write-off periods will be comparable with those overseas.
3. a. An aeroplane, motor vehicle, etc., so badly damaged as to be not worth repair; a wreck; an act of irreparably damaging. orig. Air Force.
1918J. M. Grider War Birds (1927) 89 He wasn't hurt but the Spad [sc. an aeroplane] was a write-off. 1927E. W. Springs Nocturne Militaire 250 Both machines were complete write-offs and the only things they salvaged were the magnetos. 1944[see overshoot n.]. 1953J. Trench Docken Dead xiii. 199 ‘What have you done to my car?’ ‘I'm afraid it's rather a write-off, sir, as far as immediate use goes, anyway.’ 1963N. Marsh Dead Water (1964) ix. 249 The hotel launch was still jammed... A complete write-off, it was thought. 1971E. Afr. Standard (Nairobi) 10 Apr. 8/3 The car I tried was well run in and had in fact been rebuilt from a write-off condition. 1977Offshore Engineer June 13/1 The Ekofisk incident has served to sharpen the risk potential of something more serious—like a major explosion, causing a platform write-off, and pollution seepage.
b. Something or someone dismissed as worthless or ineffectual; a failure.
1960Guardian 26 Sept. 7/5 On English television this [film] would have been a write-off. 1966Listener 17 Feb. 257/3, I find the new record of Rossini's Stabat Mater..an almost complete write-off, because this New York performance..is..vulgarly and insensitively sung. 1974J. Cooper Women & Super Women 20 In fact she's [sc. the pregnant woman's] a write-off from the sex appeal point of view after the fourth month. 1982M. Russell All Part of Service ii. 15 If it involves such an effort, I think it might well prove to be a write-off from the start. 1984A. Brookner Hotel du Lac v. 65 The day would be a write-off. |
