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Phrase(s): get off (something)
to climb down from something. • Please get off the stairs. You know you shouldn’t play on the stairs. • I wish that the children would get off that ladder before they fall off., Phrase(s): get off (easy) [and] get off (lightly)
to receive very little punishment (for doing something wrong). • It was a serious crime, but Mary got off easy. • Billy’s punishment was very light. Considering what he did, he got off lightly., Phrase(s): get off (of) someone or something [and] get off
to get down from someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) • Please get off of me. I can’t play piggyback anymore. • Get off of the sofa!, Phrase(s): get something off (to someone or something) [and] get something off
to send something to someone or something. • I have to get a letter off to Aunt Mary. • Did you get off all your packages?, Phrase(s): get off (lightly)
Go to get off (easy)., Phrase(s): get someone off
1. to get someone cleared of a criminal charge. • Ted’s lawyer got him off, although we all knew he was guilty. • I hope someone can get her off. She is innocent no matter how it looks. 2. to get someone freed from a responsibility. (See also get off the hook.) • I think I can get you off. • What do I need to do to get myself off ?, Phrase(s): get off (with something)
to receive only a light punishment for something. • Let’s hope John gets off with a light sentence. • Max got off with only a few years in prison., Phrase(s): get off
1. to start off (on a friendship). • Tom and Bill had never met before. They seemed to get off all right, though. • I’m glad they got off so well. 2. to leave; to depart. • What time did they get off ? • We have to get off early in the morning before the traffic gets heavy. 3. Go to get off (easy); get off (of) someone or something; get off (of) something; get off something; get off to something; get off with something., Phrase(s): get off (to something)
to leave for something. • I’ve got to get off to my violin lesson. • We have to get off to the hospital immediately!, Phrase(s): get something off
Go to get something off (to someone or something)., Phrase(s): get someone or something off someone or something [and] get someone or something off
to remove someone or something from someone, oneself, or something. • Come in and get those wet clothes off. • Get him off of me!, Phrase(s): get off (of) something [and] get off
Inf. to stop discussing the topic that one is supposed to be discussing [and start discussing something else]; to stray from the topic at hand. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) • I wish you wouldn’t get off the subject so much. • This writer gets off of his topic all the time.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Dismount, leave a vehicle, as in She got off the horse right away, or Let's get off the train at the next stop. [Late 1600s] 2. Start, as on a trip; leave. For example, We got off at the crack of dawn. [Mid-1700s] 3. Fire a round of ammunition; also, send away. For example, He got off two shots, but the deer fled, or I got off that letter just in time. 4. Escape from punishment; also, obtain a lesser penalty or release for someone. For example, He apologized so profusely that he was sure to get off, or The attorney got her client off with a slap on the wrist. This sense is sometimes amplified to get off easy or get off lightly. Where there is no punishment at all, the expression is sometimes put as get off scot-free, originally meaning "be free from paying a fine or tax (scot)," dating from the 1500s. [Mid1600s] 5. Remove, take off, as in I can't seem to get this paint off the car. [Second half of 1600s] 6. Succeed in uttering, especially a joke. For example, Carl always manages to get off a good one before he gets serious. [Mid-1800s] 7. Have the effrontery to do or say something. For example, Where does he get off telling me what to do? [Colloquial; early 1900s] 8. Experience orgasm, as in She never did get off. [Slang; first half of 1900s] 9. Also, get off of one. Stop bothering or criticizing one, as in Get off me right now! or If you don't get off of me I'm walking out. [Slang; c. 1940] Also see GET OFF ON; OFF ONE'S BACK.
American Heritage Idioms