lift off

Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

When two birds finally lifted off, their movement cut across the industrial scene.

From BBC

Footage of the concert shows people being lifted off their feet and carried along in a wave of bodies that hits the barrier then reverberates back through the audience.

From BBC

"A significant weight has been lifted off our shoulders and we can think of all the great memories Keith has given us all."

From BBC

For those with a minimum height of 34 inches, this is a casual, patient experience, one in which seated guests will gently lift off into the air for a slightly elevated view of the land.

From Los Angeles Times

As the ice thinned, this smooth foundation allowed large sections to lift off the ground and float, triggering an unusual and sudden calving event.

From Science Daily