To finish up, to destroy.
1833. It’s a mercy, madam, that the cowardly varments had n’t used you up body-aciously.—James Hall, ‘Legends of the West,’ p. 38. (Phila.). (Italics in the original.)
1833. You’re no account, to be afraid of a dead bear. I ’ve used him up, the right way. He ’s cold as a wagon-tire.—Id., p. 212. (Italics in the original.)
1838. One who (to use a backwoods phrase) had been literally “used up” by a distinguished Whig gentleman from Massachusetts.—Mr. Boon of Indiana, House of Repr., March 22: Cong. Globe, p. 251.
1838. See CAUTION.
1842. After the gentleman had effectually “used up” his assailants [we laid the affair on the table].—Mr. Underwood of Kentucky, House of Repr., Jan. 27: Cong. Globe, p. 234, App.
1853. Her straw bonnet was used up like a crushed eggshell.—Phila. Mercury, n.d.
1855. If I should get mad in Washington, I would as soon fight the whole crowd as one individual, and they would use me up.—Brigham Young, June 17: ‘Journal of Discourses,’ ii. 319.
1857. Hundreds of miles have the Indians travelled to see me, to know whether they might use up the emigrants.—The same, Sept. 13: id., v. 236.
1863. If you advance as soon as possible on them in front while I attack them in flank I think we can use them up.—Despatch of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas: ‘Southern Hist. Soc. Papers,’ xii. 220.
