pace (something) off

pace (something) off

To take even strides as a means of counting and marking a particular distance or measuring the distance of something. He paced off the perimeter of his property and determined it was roughly 80 meters in length. The two stood back to back and paced ten yards off in opposite directions.

See also: off, pace

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pace something

 out

1. Lit. to measure a distance by counting the number of even strides taken while walking. He paced the distance out and wrote it down. He paced out the distance from the door to the mailbox.

2. Fig. to deal with a problem by pacing around. When she was upset, she walked and walked while she thought through her problem. When Ed came into the room, she was pacing a new crisis out. She usually paced out her anxiety.

pace something

off to mark off a distance by counting the number of even strides taken while walking. The farmer paced a few yards off and pounded a stake into the soil. He paced off a few yards.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

pace (oneself)

To move or make progress at a sensible or moderate rate.

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.