# drive off

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drive-off
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To force to leave or go away.

## Examples

- The loud noise helped drive off the stray cats.
- The security guard used a bright flashlight to drive off the teenagers who were loitering near the store entrance.
- By implementing stricter patrol measures and installing better lighting, the neighborhood association successfully drove off the vandals who had been plaguing the park for months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.