pair off
Idioms-
Put two persons together; also, become one of a couple, as in Jean mentally paired off her guests whenever she planned a party , or All the tennis players had to pair off for a round of doubles matches . [Late 1600s]
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Also, pair up . Make a pair of, match, as in I always have trouble pairing up their socks . [Early 1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, researchers say, people waiting longer to get married and being more selective about whom they pair off with can result in more stable marriages, contributing to a reduction in the divorce rate.
As waiters in white coats circled with trays of shrimp cocktails, sliders, French fries and champagne, partygoers paired off in corners.
From New York Times
Tiger Woods was in the third pairing off the tee after shooting his worst round in a major, a 10-over 82 on Saturday.
From Seattle Times
Circumstances change — people pair off, have children, choose lives that seem at odds with the dreams of youth.
From Los Angeles Times
Two of them have already paired off, their knees touching in the corner.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
