English · Daily Life

take off

/teɪk ɒf/

[/teɪk ɒf/]

remove; leave ground

Intermediateverb

Definition

To remove clothing, or for an aircraft to leave the ground; also to become successful.

Example

The plane took off two hours late because of heavy fog over the entire region.

The plane took off two hours late because of heavy fog over the entire region.

Etymology

From 'take' plus 'off'; the aviation sense developed in the early 20th century.

How & Where It’s Used

Common across senses: removing clothes, aircraft departure, and businesses suddenly thriving.

Watch “remove; leave ground” pronunciation on YouTube
phrasal-verb

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