offing

[aw-fing, of-ing]

noun

1. the more distant part of the sea seen from the shore, beyond the anchoring ground.

2. a position at a distance from shore.

offing

/ ˈɒfɪŋ /

noun

1. the part of the sea that can be seen from the shore

2. likely to occur soon

Word History and Origins

Origin of offing¹

First recorded in 1620–30; off + -ing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the offing,

   1. at a distance but within sight.

   2. in the projected future; likely to happen.

      A wedding is in the offing.

see in the offing.

Example Sentences

It was the same day that No. 14 USC was playing No. 1 Washington with a Rose Bowl berth in the offing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

OpenAI has since gone on a deal spree with a host of other major tech players leading to speculation that an AI bubble may be in the offing.

Read more on BBC

"We can dream, and even six months ago this wasn't even in the offing and we had no real idea of what the actual appetite would be," she said.

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“L.A. Women” is in many ways a breezy book, gentle about its crises and suggesting early on that a happy ending is in the offing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Maybe there was another shock in the offing, but how many shocks have we actually seen in Scottish Cup finals in the last half century and more.

Read more on BBC

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