write off

write off  {v. phr.}

1. To remove (an amount) from a business record; cancel (a debt); accept as a loss.

If a customer dies when he owes the store money, the store must often write it off.

Compare: CHARGE OFF.

2. To accept (a loss or trouble) and not worry anymore about it; forget.

Mr. Brown had so much trouble with the new TV set that he finally wrote it off and bought a new one.

Jim's mistake cost him time and money, but he wrote it off to experience.

Compare: CHARGE OFF (2).

Contrast: CHALK UP (2). To say that (something) will fail or not be good; believe worthless.

Just because the boys on the team are young, don't write the team off.

Compare: COUNT OUT.