# shoot off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to leave a place very quickly because you are in a hurry. You use this when you need to go somewhere else immediately.

For teachers: to depart a location rapidly or abruptly. The verb is intransitive in this sense and often functions as a pragmatic marker to signal the end of a social interaction.

## Examples

- I have to shoot off now or I will be late.
- It was great seeing you, but I need to shoot off to catch the last bus home.
- The CEO had to shoot off immediately after the presentation to attend an urgent board meeting across town, leaving no time for questions.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to shoot off the party." but "I need to shoot off from the party." — The verb is intransitive in this sense, so you cannot 'shoot off' a place directly; you must use a preposition like 'from' or 'to'.

## Usage notes

- This is an informal expression used mostly in spoken English to explain a sudden departure.
- Teaching tip: Contrast this with 'take off', which can also mean to leave quickly but is often associated with planes or sudden success.

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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.