skim off
phrasal verb
skimmed off; skimming off; skims off
1
: to remove a layer of (something) from the surface of a liquid
She skimmed the cream off the milk.
2
: to take (something valuable) for oneself out of something else
He skimmed off some of the profits.
Examples of skim off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As the sociologist Max Weber noted, before the onset of modernization, instead of receiving sufficient, stable salaries from state budgets, most public agents financed themselves through the prerogatives of office—for example, skimming off a share of fees and taxes for themselves.
—
Yuen Yuen Ang, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
Currently, there are big settling tanks where grease and oil float to the top and are skimmed off and disposed of.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 25 July 2024
The affair is a harbinger of future fights: with less cream to skim off, the politically connected will have to start stealing their share from one another.
—Joshua Yaffa, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2015
Both are funded by skimming off 15 to 20 cents from every 100 pounds of milk produced, which generates over $400 million annually for a sprawling web of advertising and research organizations.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 31 May 2024
The Obama administration sensibly wanted to move to a flatter system of more direct lending, thus saving the significant funds skimmed off by the middlemen in the process.
—Desmond King, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2012
Most of the profit margin for that company is skimmed off by Jeff Bezos [Amazon’s founder and executive chairman] in the form of cloud rent.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
It’s got to be layered with trappings skimmed off the top of assorted genres.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024
Clarify the butter by melting it in a small saucepan over low heat and then skimming off the white solids that rise to the top.
—Ella Quittner, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
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Yuen Yuen Ang, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
Currently, there are big settling tanks where grease and oil float to the top and are skimmed off and disposed of.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 25 July 2024
The affair is a harbinger of future fights: with less cream to skim off, the politically connected will have to start stealing their share from one another.
—Joshua Yaffa, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2015
Both are funded by skimming off 15 to 20 cents from every 100 pounds of milk produced, which generates over $400 million annually for a sprawling web of advertising and research organizations.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 31 May 2024
The Obama administration sensibly wanted to move to a flatter system of more direct lending, thus saving the significant funds skimmed off by the middlemen in the process.
—Desmond King, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2012
Most of the profit margin for that company is skimmed off by Jeff Bezos [Amazon’s founder and executive chairman] in the form of cloud rent.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
It’s got to be layered with trappings skimmed off the top of assorted genres.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024
Clarify the butter by melting it in a small saucepan over low heat and then skimming off the white solids that rise to the top.
—Ella Quittner, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near skim off
Cite this Entry
“Skim off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skim%20off. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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