be off Idiom, Proverb
be off
leave, go, off with you Be off, my dear, or you'll be late for work.
To be off someone's Christmas card list
"Oh dear. I think I'm off her Christmas card list after insulting her husband!"
be off|off
v. phr. 1.
v. To be in error; miscalculate.
The estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house. 2.
v. To leave.
Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying goodbye. 3.
adj. Cancelled; terminated.
The weather was so bad that we were told that the trip was off. 4.
adj. Crazy.
I'm sure Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind would say such things. 5.
adj. Free from work; having vacation time.
Although we were off for the rest of the day, we couldn't go to the beach because it started to rain.be off
1. To leave a abode or to abandon to addition one. Though aforetime acclimated as an imperative, this use is now rare. I'm aloof off to the bar for a few drinks, I shouldn't be there long. I anticipate I'll be off, allocution to you soon.2. Of food, to be spoiled, rotten, or accomplished its prime. This craven is absolutely off, it stinks!3. To be hardly unwell or in poor condition. My abdomen is off, I anticipate it's from article I ate. I'm not abiding what's wrong, I'm aloof a bit off today.4. To be incorrect, faulty, or in poor condition. Often acclimated with condoning words, such as "a bit," "far," "really," etc. It was a nice guess, but you're a little off. That radio is a bit off, it's acrimonious up mostly static. I anticipate we charge a altered blush paint, this one is a little off.5. Without obligation to or chargeless from something, abnormally assignment or school. I'm assuredly off for my summer vacation! Jonah's off today, he'll be aback in the appointment on Monday.6. In stocks and finance, to be trading at a amount lower than the antecedent one or lower than the amount that was accepted or hoped for. The bazaar is off by a huge allowance today. This could spell agitation for the bread-and-butter recovery. The company's stocks are off addition 200 credibility as of this afternoon.7. To be somewhat strange, crazy, or awkward. Often acclimated with "a bit" or "a little." There's a guy on our bend who shouts about the end of the world; I anticipate he's a little off.Learn more: offbe off
1. Leave, depart, as in I'm off to the races; ambition me luck. This phrase, aboriginal recorded in 1826, was already frequently acclimated as an imperative, acceptation "go away"-as in Be off or I'll alarm the police-but today is attenuate in this context.
2. Be in poor condition; be dried or spoiled; not assignment properly. For example, This milk charge be off; it tastes sour, or The kitchen alarm is off by at atomic bristles minutes. [Early 1990s]
3. Be chargeless from work, school, or some added approved occupation, as in The secretary is off today, but conceivably I can acquisition it. [Mid-1800s]
4. Decline, as in The automated stocks are off 50 credibility today. This usage, about consistently activated to balance or added prices, was aboriginal recorded in 1929, the year of the abundant banal bazaar crash. Learn more: offbe off
v.
1. To accept larboard or been removed from a surface: The crows accept aureate away; they're all off the roof now. The snow is off the roads, and it should be safe to drive now.
2. To leave or accept left: I was already off to the airport back you called.
3. To be disengaged, not currently functioning, abnormally through abridgement of ability supply. Acclimated mostly of machines: It's aphotic now that the lights are off. Before I leave the abode I consistently checks to see if the stove is off.
4. To be no best affiliated to or advertisement by some advice system: How continued accept you been off the phone? The television affairs is now off the air.
5. To be inexact, imprecise, or not affair expectations: Something is amiss with this calculation; these abstracts are absolutely off. My golf arena was absolutely off aftermost weekend.
6. To be spoiled: Don't use this milk in your tea; it's off.
7. To be no best abased on, absorbed to, or acquisitive of something: I'm assuredly off caffeine. He's been off of drugs for a continued time now.
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