take off

take someone or something off

Sl. to rob someone or something. (Underworld.) Weren't you in that bunch that took the bank off in Philly? No, we never took off no bank, did we, Lefty?

See also: take

take someone or something off (something)

to remove someone or something from the surface of something. Bob helped take his children off the merry-go-round. Please take your books off the table.

See also: take

take someone off

Sl. to kill someone. (Underworld.) The mob took the witness off a week before the trial. Bar-lowe didn't want to have to take off Lefty, but he was afraid he might talk.

See also: take

take something off

to remove something, such as an article of clothing. Please take your coat off and stay awhile. Please take off your coat.

See also: take

take off 

1. Fig. to leave the ground and begin to fly. (As with a bird or an airplane.) When do we take off? The eagle took off and headed toward the mountains.

2. Fig. [for someone] to leave in a hurry. She really took off from there quickly. I've got to take off—I'm late.

3. Fig. [for something] to start selling well. The fluffy dog dolls began to take off, and we sold out the lot. Ticket sales really took off after the first performance.

4. Fig. to become active and exciting. Did the party ever take off, or was it dull all night? Things began to take off about midnight.

See also: take

take off (for some place)

1. Lit. to take flight, heading for some place. We took off for Moscow early in the evening. We took off at dawn.

2. Fig. to leave for some place. The girls took off for home when they heard the dinner bell. It's late. I have to take off.

See also: take

take off (on something)

to start out speaking on something; to begin a discussion of something. My father took off on the subject of taxes and talked for an hour. My uncle is always taking off on the state of the economy.

See also: take

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take (something) off

to not work at your job for a period of time I've decided to take next semester off and travel and write. Jim needs to take off for a little while.

See also: take

take off

1. to leave the ground and fly The plane could not take off because of a problem with its fuel tanks.

2. to leave suddenly When he saw me coming, he took off in the other direction.

3. to suddenly succeed The style really took off among teens.

See also: take