Take off
Meaning
To suddenly leave a place, often quickly, or for an aircraft or rocket to lift into the air.
Origin
The phrase "take off" has a dual origin story, emerging vividly from two distinct historical moments. In its older sense, to "take off" meant to depart suddenly and quickly, an idiom reflecting the rapid departure of a person or animal. However, its most iconic meaning soared into popular consciousness with the dawn of aviation in the early 20th century. As early flying machines struggled to gain altitude, the act of lifting from the ground became a critical, defining moment. Spectators and pilots alike watched with bated breath as the contraptions would literally "take off" into the sky, shedding the earth's embrace. This specific, dramatic act of ascent captured the public imagination and solidified the phrase in the English lexicon, giving it the powerful connotation of beginning a journey by air.
Examples
- The children watched as the airplane began to taxi down the runway, ready to take off for its long journey.
- As soon as the meeting ended, she had to take off to catch her train, leaving quickly without saying goodbye.