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Phrase(s): take someone off
Sl. to kill someone. (Underworld.) • The mob took the witness off a week before the trial. • Barlowe didn’t want to have to take off Lefty, but he was afraid he might talk., Phrase(s): take off (for some place)
1. Lit. to take flight, heading for some place. • We took off for Moscow early in the evening. • We took off at dawn. 2. Fig. to leave for some place. • The girls took off for home when they heard the dinner bell. • It’s late. I have to take off., Phrase(s): take oneself off some place
to go away to some place more private. • I need to take myself off someplace and think all this over. • She kept her sanity by taking herself off to her bedroom for a few hours each day., Phrase(s): take off (on something)
to start out speaking on something; to begin a discussion of something. • My father took off on the subject of taxes and talked for an hour. • My uncle is always taking off on the state of the economy., Phrase(s): take something off
to remove something, such as an article of clothing. • Please take your coat off and stay awhile. • Please take off your coat., Phrase(s): take off
1. Fig. to leave the ground and begin to fly. (As with a bird or an airplane.) • When do we take off ? • The eagle took off and headed toward the mountains. 2. Fig. [for someone] to leave in a hurry. • She really took off from there quickly. • I’ve got to take off—I’m late. 3. Fig. [for something] to start selling well. • The fluffy dog dolls began to take off, and we sold out the lot. • Ticket sales really took off after the first performance. 4. Fig. to become active and exciting. • Did the party ever take off, or was it dull all night? • Things began to take off about midnight., Phrase(s): take someone or something off (something)
to remove someone or something from the surface of something. • Bob helped take his children off the merry-go-round. • Please take your books off the table., Phrase(s): take someone or something off
Sl. to rob someone or something. (Underworld.) • Weren’t you in that bunch that took the bank off in Philly? • No, we never took off no bank, did we, Lefty?, Phrase(s): take off (after someone or something) [and] take out (after someone or something)
to begin to chase someone or something. • The bank guard took off after the robber. • Did you see that police car take off ? • It took out after the bank robber’s car.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Remove, as in Take off your coat and stay for a while, or I took my foot off the brake. [c. 1300] 2. Deduct, decrease, as in He took 20 percent off the original price, or I want you to trim my hair, but please don't take off too much. [c. 1700] 3. Carry or take away, as in The passengers were taken off one by one. [Late 1800s] 4. Also, take oneself off. Leave, go away, as in I'm taking off now, or We take ourselves off for China next month, or, as an imperative, Take yourself off right now! [First half of 1800s] 5. Move forward quickly, as in The dog took off after the car. 6. Become well known or popular, or achieve sudden growth, as in That actor's career has really taken off, or Sales took off around the holidays. [Mid-1900s] 7. Rise in flight, as in The airplane took off on time. [Mid-1800s] 8. Discontinue, as in The railroad took off the commuter special. [Mid-1700s] 9. Imitate humorously or satirically, as in He had a way of taking off the governor that made us howl with laughter. [Mid-1700s] 10. Withhold service, as in I'm taking off from work today because of the funeral. [First half of 1900s]
American Heritage Idioms