# take off

Pronunciation: US say "tayk-AWF" /ˌteɪk ˈɔf/; UK say "tayk-OF" /ˌteɪk ˈɒf/; AUS

## Phrasal verb

1. To leave the ground and rise into the air or into flight, as an aircraft, a bird, or a jumper does.
   - Simple: To leave the ground and go up into the air.
   - _Our flight was supposed to take off at noon, but fog kept it on the runway._
   - _The long jumper took off a few inches before the board and still landed well._
2. To remove something, such as a piece of clothing from the body or an amount from a total.
   - Simple: To remove something, like clothes or shoes, or points from a score.
   - _Guests are asked to take off their hats during the ceremony._
   - _The store took 20 percent off every winter coat._
3. To become successful and start to flourish.
   - Simple: To start to do very well and become successful.
   - _Her online bakery took off after a food writer praised it._
   - _Analysts doubted that electric scooters would take off in such a hilly city._
4. To stay away from work or another responsibility for a time, especially with permission.
   - Simple: To stay away from work or another duty for a while, especially with permission.
   - _She took off three days to care for her sick father._
   - _If you take off for the holidays, you'll need someone to cover your shifts._
5. To leave a place or go away.
   - Simple: To leave or go away from a place.
   - _It's getting late, so I'm going to take off._
   - _When the alarm sounded, the thieves took off down the alley._
7. To imitate someone, often in a mocking or satirical way.
   - Simple: To copy the way someone talks or acts, often to make fun of them.
   - _She can take off the boss perfectly, right down to his nervous cough._
   - _The comedian took off the senator's speaking style, long pauses and all._
8. In surfing, to stand up on the board and begin riding a breaking wave.
   - Simple: In surfing, to stand up on your board and start riding a wave.
   - _Paddle hard and take off just as the wave starts to pitch._
   - _He took off late on a steep set wave and was thrown from his board._
9. To work out the quantity of something, such as the materials a building project needs.
   - Simple: To count or measure how much of something is needed, like for a building job.
   - _The estimator will take off the lumber from the drawings by Friday._
   - _Before bidding, we took off every door, window and fixture shown on the plans._

## Noun · take-off

Pronunciation: US say "TAYK-awf" /ˈteɪk ˌɔf/; UK say "TAYK-of" /ˈteɪk ˌɒf/

6. Another spelling of takeoff. — Alternative form of takeoff.
   - Simple: Another spelling of takeoff. It names the moment something rises into the air, or a funny copy of someone.
   - _Strong crosswinds made the take-off bumpy for everyone on board._
   - _The sketch was a brilliant take-off of a morning talk show._

## Phrasal verb

10. To take something by theft, or carry out a robbery of a person or place. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To steal something or rob a person or place.
   - _The crew planned to take off the armored car on its Friday run._
   - _Two men in ski masks took off the liquor store just before closing._
11. To take drugs, or specifically to inject them. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To take drugs, or to put drugs into the body with a needle.
   - _The abandoned house was where addicts went to take off, and the floor was littered with needles._
   - _He swore he had quit taking off, but the marks on his arm said otherwise._
12. To swallow something, such as a drink. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To swallow something, like a drink.
   - _He raised the cup and took off the brandy in a single swallow._
   - _Each guest was expected to take off a glass of wine to the bride's health._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/take-off (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).