"为还债而变卖"可以翻译为 "sell off (assets/possessions) to pay off debts" 或者更简洁地表达为 "liquidate (assets) to settle debts" 。
"sell off" 强调变卖的行为，通常用于描述为了特定目的（如还债）而出售资产或物品。
"liquidate" 则更侧重于清算资产以偿还债务，常用于商业或财务语境中。
在实际使用中，可以根据具体语境选择合适的表达。例如：
He had to sell off his family heirlooms to pay off his debts.（他不得不变卖家族传家宝来还债。）
The company decided to liquidate some of its non-core assets to settle its debts.（公司决定清算一些非核心资产以偿还债务。）