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

Having the lower limit means drivers are forced to do more 'lift and coast' - when they lift off the accelerator and let the car run before braking for a corner.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

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 • Mar. 6, 2026

When a tidewater glacier thins enough, it can lift off the seabed and begin floating on the ocean surface.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

When outages drag on for hours, the back-up batteries don't have time to recharge, forcing Biletsky to cut the lift off to prioritise water pumps.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

A chilly breeze picked up around us, and I saw the rest of the mist lift off the water, exposing a familiar shoreline.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall