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INGLESE LIVELLO C1

Modulo 7 Phrasal Verbs

7.3 Take off;

The English phrasal verb TAKE OFF has the following meanings:

1. Take off = to leave the ground and begin to fly

(intransitive)​ This phrasal verb is most commonly associated with planes (or aircraft) and how they become
airborne. It can also be used when someone jumps and leaves the ground or when a bird or insects
launches itself into the air.
● The plane was able to ​take off​ once the runway was clear.
● When does the plane ​take off​?
● The plane had difficulty ​taking off​ due to the high winds.

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● The helicopter ​took off​ from the platform.

The ​noun​ form is ​take-off​ or ​takeoff​.
● Due to the winds we didn’t have a smooth take-off.

2. Take off = to remove an item of clothing from your body

(transitive)​ The object of this phrasal verb (the piece of clothing) can go in the middle or at the end of the
phrasal verb (see the first two examples)
● He ​took​ his hat ​off​.
● He ​took off​ his hat.
● Remember to ​take​ your shoes ​off​ before entering the house.
● To celebrate, the player ​took​ his shirt ​off​ and whirled it over his head.
● It was hot outside so I ​took off​ my coat.

3. Take off = to leave a place (quickly) in order to go somewhere else

(intransitive – informal)​ This action is usually done in a hurry and often without the person saying where
they are going.
● Sorry, but I have to ​take off​ now since my partner is waiting for me at the restaurant.
● The burglars ​took off​ before the police arrived.

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● You won’t find Fred here, he has already ​taken off​.

● She saw me coming and ​took off​ in the other direction.
There is a similar meaning of leaving/departing a place, though not necessarily in a hurry. You can either
leave a place permanently or for an extended period of time. It can be used when you set out on a journey.
● They wanted to live in a warmer climate so ​took off​ for Spain.

4. Take off = to imitate or mimic somebody

(transitive – informal)​ This phrasal verb is used when someone copies another person’s voice or
mannerisms, especially in an amusing way.
● He ​takes off​ the Prime Minister to perfection. (= perfectly copy the way the Prime Minister talks and acts)

5. Take off = to become popular or successful

(intransitive – informal)​ This phrasal verb is used when a person’s success or rise in popularity is sudden or
very quick. It can also refer to when a (new) product has quickly had a lot of sales, especially compared to
normal.
● That new song by Samantha Star ​has​ really ​taken off​ in the charts.
● After a couple of slow weeks, sales of the new Woodward Phone finally ​took off​.

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6. Take ​(somebody)​ off = to remove a ​person​ from a place, thing or list

(transitive)​ This can include being removed from a job, a position or a responsibility. The object is
normally placed after the verb (except in Passive Voice).
● They ​took​ the injured player ​off​ the field on a stretcher.
● He sang so badly that they ​took​ him ​off​ the stage.

● The manager ​took​ her ​off​ the list.

● Due to his performance, he was ​taken off​ the team.
● The rescue helicopter ​took​ the crew ​off​ the sinking ship.
● The detective has been ​taken off​ the case.

7. Take ​(something)​ off = to remove ​something​ from a place or person

(transitive)​ This is to remove something from a place or the possession of a person.
● Quick! ​Take​ the knife ​off​ that little boy.

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● Can you please ​take​ your feet ​off​ the coffee table?
● The last time I looked, your name ​had been taken off​ the list.

8. Take ​(an amount)​ off = to reduce the price of something

(transitive)​ This is used when an item is discounted or when a price or cost of payment is reduced
● The store has ​taken​ twenty percent ​off​ all of their products during the sale.
● If you pay in cash, we will ​take​ an additional ten dollars ​off​ the original price.

9. Take ​(time)​ off = to not do something over a period of time

(transitive)​ Used when referring to not going to work (or not doing a responsibility) for a period of time,
usually for holiday/vacation, as a break or when a person is sick. The order is: ​Take​ + Time expression
+ ​off​.
● I felt sick so I ​took​ a couple of days ​off​ work.

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● He ​took​ four days ​off​ work to go hiking.

● I ​took​ last week ​off​ and now I have so much work to do.

10. Take off = to remove a part of the body

(transitive)​ This removal can be intentional, in this case mostly referring to the removal of hair, but it can
also refer to unintentional removal due to an accident.
● The land mine ​took off​ both of his legs and he was very lucky to survive.
● I’m glad you ​took​ that moustache ​off​.
● He had to ​take off​ his artificial arm every night before getting into bed.
It can also be used by a hairdresser when they ask:
● How much would you like ​taken off​? (= how much hair would you like cut/removed?)