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relieve

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relieve one of one's duties

Euph. to fire someone; to dismiss someone from employment. I am afraid I must relieve you of your duties. After the scandal, she was relieved of her duties at the embassy.

See also: duty, of, one, relieve

relieve oneself

Euph. to urinate or defecate. He stopped by the side of the road to relieve himself. She needed badly to relieve herself, but there was no bathroom in sight.

See also: relieve

relieve someone of something

 

1. Lit. to unburden someone of something. Here, let me relieve you of that heavy box. At last, he could relieve himself of the problem.

2. . Fig. to lessen someone's responsibilities. I will relieve you of some of the responsibility you have carried for so long. Let me relieve you of that job. You have enough to do.

See also: of, relieve

relieve you of something

to steal something from you This morning, a pickpocket relieved me of $100.

See also: of, relieve

relieve oneself

Urinate or defecate, as in The puppy relieved itself in the middle of the floor. The use of relieve for these bodily functions dates from the mid-1800s.

See also: relieve

relieve someone of

1. Take something away from someone, rob someone of something, as in The pickpocket relieved Dean of his wallet.

2. Take away a burden or responsibility, as in The doorman relieved her of her packages, or He was relieved of all his duties. [Early 1800s]

See also: of, relieve

relieve of

v.

1. To take or lift a burden from someone: The bellhop relieved us of our heavy luggage. Their rudeness relieved me of the burden of having to invite them.

2. To dismiss someone from a job, office, or position: After the scandal, the army relieved him of his post.

3. To rob or deprive someone of something: Pickpockets relieved the tourist of her money.

See also: of, relieve

relieve (oneself)

To urinate or defecate.