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go off
verb
(adverb) (of power, a water supply, etc) to cease to be available, running, or functioning
the lights suddenly went off
(adverb) to be discharged or activated; explode
(adverb) to occur as specified
the meeting went off well
to leave (a place)
the actors went off stage
(adverb) (of a sensation) to gradually cease to be felt or perceived
(adverb) to fall asleep
(adverb) to enter a specified state or condition
she went off into hysterics
to abscond (with)
(adverb) (of concrete, mortar, etc) to harden
informal(adverb) (of food, milk, etc) to become stale or rotten
informal(preposition) to cease to like
she went off him after their marriage
informal(adverb) to become bad-tempered
slang(adverb) to have an orgasm
slang(adverb) (of premises) to be raided by the police
slang(adverb) (of a racehorse) to win a fixed race
slang(adverb) to be stolen
Idioms and Phrases
Explode, detonate; also, make noise, sound, especially abruptly. For example, I heard the gun go off , or The sirens went off at noon . This expression developed in the late 1500s and gave rise about 1700 to the related go off half-cocked , now meaning “to act prematurely” but originally referring to the slipping of a gun's hammer so that the gun fires (goes off) unexpectedly.
Leave, depart, especially suddenly, as in Don't go off mad , or They went off without saying goodbye . [c. 1600]
Keep to the expected plan or course of events, succeed, as in The project went off smoothly . [Second half of 1700s]
Deteriorate in quality, as in This milk seems to have gone off . [Late 1600s]
Die. Shakespeare used this sense in Macbeth (5:9): “I would the friends we missed were safely arrived.—Some must go off.”
Experience orgasm. D.H. Lawrence used this slangy sense in Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928): “You couldn't go off at the same time....” This usage is probably rare today. Also see get off , def. 8.
go off on a tangent . See under on a tangent .
go off one's head . See off one's head . Also see subsequent idioms beginning with go off .
Example Sentences
About halfway through the hike, the dogs went off leash but stayed close.
About the only measure everyone says is needed is more provision of school doctors, nurses and psychologists in order to detect early signs of pupils going off the rails.
But Norris went off track on the exit of Turn One and came close to losing control at the hairpin a number of times.
Andrew Carnegie Middle’s graduation in Carson ultimately went off without any interruptions by law enforcement.
“Since the tariffs went into place, and in May specifically, we’ve really seen the work go off on the downside,” Seroka said.
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