get off

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to escape the consequences of an action

   he got off very lightly in the accident

2. (adverb) to be or cause to be acquitted

   a good lawyer got him off

3. (adverb) to depart or cause to depart

   to get the children off to school

4. (intr) to descend (from a bus, train, etc); dismount

   she got off at the terminus

5. to move or cause to move to a distance (from)

   get off the field

6. (tr, adverb) to remove; take off

   get your coat off

7. (adverb) to go or send to sleep

8. (adverb) to send (letters) or (of letters) to be sent

9. slang,  (intr, adverb) to become high on or as on heroin or some other drug

10. informal,  to establish an amorous or sexual relationship with

11. informal,  to rebuke or criticize someone harshly

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Start, as on a trip; leave. For example, We got off at the crack of dawn . [Mid-1700s]

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 .

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. [Mid-1600s]

Remove, take off, as in I can't seem to get this paint off the car . [Second half of 1600s]

Succeed in uttering, especially a joke. For example, Carl always manages to get off a good one before he gets serious . [Mid-1800s]

Have the effrontery to do or say something. For example, Where does he get off telling me what to do? [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

Experience orgasm, as in She never did get off . [ Slang ; first half of 1900s]

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 .

Example Sentences

You know, I actually feel like I haven’t spoken eloquently about getting off birth control.

From Los Angeles Times

Turner’s Philadelphia tenure didn’t get off to the smoothest start.

From Los Angeles Times

"I say it because if you are on benefits, in your 20s, it is going to be extremely difficult to get off benefits for the rest of your life."

From BBC

However, while biomass energy has surged in Southern states such as Georgia, projects in California have struggled to get off the ground.

From Los Angeles Times

"You could see the relief on his face. Today was just about winning. Take three points and get off the pitch."

From BBC

Related Words

• alight 
• blow 
• disembark 
• escape 
• exit 
• pull out 
• quit