get off

British  

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

---

get off Idioms  

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. [Mid-1600s]

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 .

---

Example Sentences

And the shots of nature are very pretty indeed — the documentary might inspire you, once you’re done watching, or even sooner, to get off the couch and go into the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

That said, I do think you should get off your dad’s plan — not because it will make you any more of an adult, but because this arrangement seems to be causing some unpleasant interactions.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Taipei wanted to get off on the right foot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

With Chelsea enjoying so much success after signing star players through secret payments, did they get off lightly?

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

“I’ll leave you alone. I’ll build something myself and get off this stupid island without your help.”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

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