Phrasal Verb – Take off.
To leave the ground and begin to fly; also to leave in a hurry, to suddenly become successful, or to remove clothing (4 meanings below).
The phrasal verb take off covers everything from a plane leaving the runway to a business suddenly booming — and one very handy meaning that has nothing to do with either. Here are the four you’ll actually hear.
The 4 Meanings of “Take Off”
1. To Leave the Ground and Begin to Fly
The most literal meaning — used for planes, helicopters, and anything else that flies. Not separable.
“Your plane will be taking off in 5 minutes.”
2. To Leave a Place in a Hurry (Informal)
Informal slang for leaving somewhere, often quickly. Not separable.
“Your party has been awesome but it’s time for us to take off!”
3. To Suddenly Become Successful or Popular
Used for a business, trend, or idea that catches on fast. Not separable.
“I can’t believe how popular your new website is. It has really taken off!”
4. To Remove a Piece of Clothing
The everyday meaning you’ll use constantly. Unlike the other three, this one IS separable.
“It’s boiling in here — do you mind if I take my jacket off?”
Some phrasal verbs can be separated. When we change the tense of a separable phrasal verb, we only modify the verb part — the particle stays where it is.
For a fuller reference, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for “take off”.
More Phrasal Verbs
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with 1 or 2 small words. These small words are particles. A particle can be a preposition or adverb. The phrasal verb has a different meaning from the verb alone because the particle changes the meaning of the verb.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the meaning. For “leave the ground,” “leave in a hurry,” and “become successful,” it’s inseparable. But when it means “to remove clothing,” it IS separable — you can say either “take off your shoes” or “take your shoes off.”
Yes — it’s often used for anything that suddenly becomes popular or successful, like a new trend, a business, or a song: “Her YouTube channel really took off last year.”
Context — and whether there’s an object. “We should take off” (leave) has no object, while “take off your coat” (remove) has an object: the thing being removed.
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