take off

verb

1. (tr) to remove or discard (a garment)

2. (intr) (of an aircraft) to become airborne

3. informal,  to set out or cause to set out on a journey

   they took off for Spain

4. (tr) (of a disease) to prove fatal to; kill

5. informal,  (tr) to mimic or imitate, esp in an amusing or satirical manner

6. informal,  (intr) to become successful or popular, esp suddenly

noun

1. the act or process of making an aircraft airborne

2. the stage of a country's economic development when rapid and sustained economic growth is first achieved

3. informal,  an act of mimicry; imitation

Idioms and Phrases

Remove, as in Take off your coat and stay for a while , or I took my foot off the brake . [c. 1300]

Deduct, decrease, as in He took 20 percent off the original price , or I want you to trim my hair, but please don't take off too much . [c. 1700]

Carry or take away, as in The passengers were taken off one by one . [Late 1800s]

Also, take oneself off . Leave, go away, as in I'm taking off now , or We take ourselves off for China next month , or, as an imperative, Take yourself off right now! [First half of 1800s]

Move forward quickly, as in The dog took off after the car .

Become well known or popular, or achieve sudden growth, as in That actor's career has really taken off , or Sales took off around the holidays . [Mid-1900s]

Rise in flight, as in The airplane took off on time . [Mid-1800s]

Discontinue, as in The railroad took off the commuter special . [Mid-1700s]

Imitate humorously or satirically, as in He had a way of taking off the governor that made us howl with laughter . [Mid-1700s]

Withhold service, as in I'm taking off from work today because of the funeral . [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

But it's only now that the movement has really taken off - as the country continues to grapple with high inequality and unemployment.

From BBC

“There’s an old tramway that needs volunteers. And I always liked the idea of being a primary school teacher before all this took off. It would be nice.”

From Los Angeles Times

The court heard that, whem Marten was heavily pregnant, they had decided to live off grid to avoid Victoria being taken off them by social care authorities.

From BBC

In the weeks before the ban, a "nepo kid" campaign - spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children and allegations of corruption - had taken off on social media.

From BBC

Too close and you lose the space you need to take off properly; too far and it’s harder to apply the necessary force to the pole.

From BBC

Related Words

• blast off 
• blow 
• depart 
• disappear 
• get off 
• get out 
• go 
• pull out 
• soar 
• withdraw