# fly off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fly-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to leave a place quickly by flying, or to suddenly break away and move through the air. You use this when a bird leaves a tree or when a part of a machine breaks and moves fast.

For teachers: To depart a location via flight or to detach abruptly from a larger body and travel through the air. The verb is typically intransitive but can take a prepositional object to indicate the point of origin.

## Examples

- The birds fly off as soon as they hear a loud noise.
- While he was cycling down the hill, one of the pedals flew off and he lost control.
- As the storm intensified, several loose shingles flew off the roof and scattered across the garden, posing a significant risk to anyone walking nearby.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The bird flew off of the tree." but "The bird flew off the tree." — The preposition 'off' does not require 'of' to indicate movement away from a surface.

## Usage notes

- Often used without an object to describe a sudden departure or detachment.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'fly away'; 'fly off' often implies a specific starting point or a sudden, forceful detachment.

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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.