buy over

C1 informal separable transitive

In simple words

Give someone money or gifts to make them support you instead of someone else.

Literal meaning: To buy someone over to your side.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

rare

To gain someone's support or change their loyalty by offering them money or valuable benefits.

"The rival faction attempted to buy over several of the council members before the crucial vote."

Grammar: separable

Usage notes

Less common than 'buy off'; more specifically implies converting someone's loyalty. Found in political and historical contexts. Somewhat dated.

voter ally official delegate supporter tribe

Base

buy over

I/you/we/they

3rd person

buys over

he/she/it

Past simple

bought over

yesterday

Past participle

bought over

have + pp

-ing form

buying over

continuous

Try:

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bribe corrupt win over suborn buy off induce

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