take off

A2 · Elementary

phr.v. when an aircraft leaves the ground and starts to fly.

phr.v. to leave the ground and begin flight.

“The plane took off on time despite the heavy rain and wind.”

“The pilot waited for clearance from the tower before accelerating down the runway to take off into the overcast morning sky.”

B1 · Intermediate

phr.v. to suddenly become very successful or popular.

phr.v. to experience a sudden and rapid increase in popularity, success, or progress.

“Her career really took off after she won the national singing contest.”

“The new social media platform took off almost overnight, attracting millions of active users within its first month of release.”

B1 · Intermediate

phr.v. to spend time away from work or study, usually with permission.

phr.v. to absent oneself from work or regular duties for a period of time.

“I'm planning to take two days off next week to visit my parents.”

“She decided to take a sabbatical off to travel through South America and focus on her photography project.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

phr.v. to leave a place suddenly or quickly.

phr.v. to depart a location, often abruptly or in a hurry.

“As soon as the meeting ended, he took off without saying goodbye.”

“The suspect took off down a narrow alleyway the moment he spotted the patrol car turning the corner.”

C1 · Advanced British English · Humorous

phr.v. to copy the way someone speaks or behaves to make people laugh.

phr.v. to mimic or lampoon someone's speech or mannerisms, typically for comedic effect.

“He is great at taking off the prime minister's posh accent.”

“The comedian's routine relied heavily on his ability to take off various Hollywood celebrities with uncanny vocal precision.”