live off (of) (someone or something)
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live off (of) (someone or something)
1. To acquire or provide for one's needs by benefiting from or taking advantage of someone or something else. You can't just keep living off your brother—you need to get out there and find a job and a place of your own. I've been living off of my trust fund until I find a new job.
2. To survive by eating or drinking something, especially exclusively or very frequently. A species of insect lives off this weed, so if it is eliminated completely, the insects will die, too. I was so poor during college that I lived off of rice, beans, and pasta.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
live off (of) someone or something
to obtain one's living or means of survival from someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) You can't live off your uncle all your life! I manage to live off of my salary.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
live off
v.
1. To survive or provide for one's needs by benefiting from someone or something: I'm living off my savings until I find a job. It's shameful to live off your parents at your age!
2. To eat some type of food frequently or exclusively: In the winter, some animals live off collections of food that they gathered during the warmer months.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
live off
/on the fat of the land To enjoy the best of everything; live in comfort or luxury.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.