takeoff

a takeoff on (someone or something)

An amusing caricature or parody of someone or something. In our skit, we did a takeoff on the principal's daily announcements and had everyone cracking up. She specializes in takeoffs on celebrities and famous political figures. The film is a hilarious takeoff on all the tropes we've come to associate with romantic comedies.

See also: on, takeoff

do a takeoff on (someone or something)

To parody someone or something. In our skit, we did a takeoff on the principal's daily announcements and had everyone cracking up.

See also: on, takeoff

take-off artist

slang A thief, especially a mugger or robber. My dad always made it known that he kept a shotgun and a baseball bat behind the counter to ward off would-be take-off artists. The guy is a take-off artist. He used to walk around town posing as a foreigner, then he'd stop people on the street to ask for directions, pull a gun on them, and make off with their valuables.

See also: artist

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

do a takeoff on someone or something

to perform a parody on someone or something. The comedian did a takeoff on the president, and everyone thought it was terribly funny.

See also: on, takeoff

take-off artist

Sl a thief. (Underworld.) A take-off artist known as the Cat is cleaning out closets and jewelry boxes all over town. He's not a sales agent. He's a takeoff artist, pure and simple.

See also: artist

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

take-off artist

n. a thief. (Underworld.) A take-off artist known as the Cat is cleaning out closets and jewelry boxes all over town.

See also: artist

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.