lift off

1. Begin flight, as in The spacecraft was due to lift off at ten o'clock. The off in this idiom means “off the ground.” [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

The manner in which he performed after opening the scoring was that of a player with a weight suddenly lifted off his shoulders.

From BBC

The chopper lifted off and tilted back north toward a nearby Border Patrol post.

From Los Angeles Times

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” Schofield said after Saturday’s win over Farmer.

From Los Angeles Times

The SpaceX rocket lifted off at 8:36 p.m. from its launchpad at the California base and reached low Earth orbit about 8½ minutes later.

From Los Angeles Times

They were welcomed by a music band on their arrival at the school and were seen breaking out into applause as the rocket lifted off.

From BBC