be off

Idioms  

1. Leave, depart, as in I'm off to the races; wish me luck . This phrase, first recorded in 1826, was once commonly used as an imperative, meaning “go away”—as in Be off or I'll call the police —but today is rare in this context.

2. Be in poor condition; be stale or spoiled; not work properly. For example, This milk must be off; it tastes sour , or The kitchen clock is off by at least five minutes . [Early 1990s]

3. Be free from work, school, or some other regular occupation, as in The secretary is off today, but perhaps I can find it . [Mid-1800s]

4. Decline, as in The industrial stocks are off 50 points today . This usage, nearly always applied to securities or other prices, was first recorded in 1929, the year of the great stock market crash.

5. see be off.

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Example Sentences

“Because it would be hard, and I would be terrible at it. So I’ll just be off.”

From Literature

I think civil contempt is a real possibility, and criminal contempt may not be off the table.

From Slate

In the same survey, 28% said platforms should be off‑limits for under‑12s altogether, arguing that younger children should "still be playing outside instead of on their phones" and describing social media as addictive, unsafe and bad for their mental health.

From BBC

“Production may well be off for the rest of the year, even if there is a cease-fire soon.”

From Barron's

And then we would be off to the station, hand in hand, I lengthening my strides and he shortening his to keep in step.

From Literature

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