lift off

lift off

1. To pick someone or something up off a person or surface. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "lift" and "off." Please help me lift this box off the table. The two security guards lifted the guy right off his seat and threw him out the door.

2. Of an aircraft, to achieve or begin flight. The helicopter lifted off, blowing a huge billowing dust cloud into the crowd of spectators.

See also: lift, off

lift something off (of) someone or something

 and lift something off

to raise something and uncover or release someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Lift the beam off of him and see if he is still breathing. Please lift off the heavy lid.

See also: lift, off

lift off

[for a plane or rocket] to move upward, leaving the ground. The rocket lifted off exactly on time.

See also: lift, off

lift off

Begin flight, as in The spacecraft was due to lift off at ten o'clock. The off in this idiom means "off the ground." [Late 1800s]

See also: lift, off

lift off

v.

1. To pick something up from some surface: I lifted the lid off the pan to let the heat escape. I unfastened the tarp and lifted it off from the tent.

2. To leave the ground and begin flight: The spacecraft will lift off at noon.

See also: lift, off