buy out from under

English

Verb

buy out from under (third-person singular simple present buys out from under, present participle buying out from under, simple past and past participle bought out from under)

1. (ditransitive) To purchase (something) that (somebody else) intends to buy.

   We better make an offer before somebody buys the house out from under us.

2. (transitive) To make a payment to escape from or cancel (a problem).

   He bought out from under his legal problems.