lift off
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to leave the ground and start flying, usually used for rockets, helicopters, or planes.
to leave the ground and begin flight; most commonly applied to the vertical ascent of rockets or helicopters from a stationary position.
Simple“The rocket is scheduled to lift off at exactly ten o'clock tomorrow morning.”
In context“Spectators gathered at a safe distance to watch the massive rocket lift off, feeling the ground shake as the engines reached full power.”
UsageThe verb is intransitive in this sense and does not take a direct object.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to pick something up or remove it from the surface it was resting on.
to physically raise an object from a surface or to remove a covering by pulling it upward.
Simple“He carefully lifted the lid off the box to see what was inside.”
In context“The forensic team used specialized tape to lift off the fingerprints from the glass surface without damaging the evidence.”
UsageThis sense is transitive and separable; you can lift the lid off or lift off the lid.
contrast with 'take off' (more general) and note that 'lift off' is more specific to mechanical things taking off.