take off
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle off
Meanings
Remove clothing or accessories
Why “off”? A piece detaches from the whole. Contact with the body is broken.
“Take off your shoes at the door.”
“He took off his wet jacket in the hall.”
“He took off his hat as a sign of respect.”
Leave the ground (airplane)
Why “off”? The whole object launches away from where it stood.
“The plane takes off at noon.”
“The helicopter took off from the hospital roof.”
“The helicopter took off in a cloud of dust.”
Become suddenly successful
Why “off”? The effort succeeds. It moves from an attempt to a result.
“Her career really took off after that role.”
“The bakery took off after a TV review.”
“The podcast took off in its second season.”
Don't confuse with
Take off means remove clothing or accessories. Take on means accept a responsibility or challenge.
Take off means remove clothing or accessories. Take out means remove something from inside.
Use take off for something on your body. Use take down for something fixed or hanging above you.
Test yourself
“Take off your shoes at the door.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
take down
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove something from a higher position; Write notes quickly; Defeat or bring down; Defeat or remove from operation
take on
A contrast learners often mix up
Accept a responsibility or challenge; Employ new staff; Compete against; Accept extra responsibility
take out
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove something from inside; Invite someone to go somewhere socially; Borrow from a library; Remove from inside
back off
Same off pattern: separation
Move away from someone or something, often in retreat; Stop pressuring or interfering with someone; Withdraw from a previous position or commitment
bite off
Same off pattern: separation
Remove a piece of something by biting it; Take on more than you can handle ("bite off more than you can chew"); Speak sharply and curtly
blast off
Same off pattern: departure
Launch into the sky with great force
block off
Same off pattern: separation
Close off an area or route to prevent access; Reserve a period of time for a specific purpose
blow off
Same off pattern: separation
Be removed by force, especially wind; Cancel plans or fail to meet someone deliberately; Release strong feelings, especially anger; Remove dust or particles by blowing air on them
Practice “take off” in Sink In
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