lift off

lift off

1. To pick someone or something up off a person or surface. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "lift" and "off." Please help me lift this box off the table. The two security guards lifted the guy right off his seat and threw him out the door.
2. Of an aircraft, to achieve or begin flight. The helicopter lifted off, blowing a huge billowing dust cloud into the crowd of spectators.
See also: lift, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lift something off (of) someone or something

 and lift something off
to raise something and uncover or release someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Lift the beam off of him and see if he is still breathing. Please lift off the heavy lid.
See also: lift, off

lift off

[for a plane or rocket] to move upward, leaving the ground. The rocket lifted off exactly on time.
See also: lift, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

lift off

Begin flight, as in The spacecraft was due to lift off at ten o'clock. The off in this idiom means "off the ground." [Late 1800s]
See also: lift, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

lift off

v.
1. To pick something up from some surface: I lifted the lid off the pan to let the heat escape. I unfastened the tarp and lifted it off from the tent.
2. To leave the ground and begin flight: The spacecraft will lift off at noon.
See also: lift, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • lift up
  • raise up
  • get (something) off the ground
  • get off the ground
  • hold up to
  • hold up to (something)
  • pick out
  • lift from
  • take up
  • pick up
References in periodicals archive
He said Lingdale Lift Off was now in its fifth year and aimed to improve the look of the village.
Pick of the bunch; Pupils do bloomin' good job
Since the Lift Off programme was launched in 2002, the scheme has enabled more than 140 companies to benefit from business improvements initiatives and helped secure more than 600 jobs.
A WM backs three more years for jobs initiative
But thanks to pounds 30,000 of financial support and advice from Lift Off, the firm is investing in the latest five-axis machining equipment and looking to fight back by expanding its work in Formula One, defence and rail markets.
BUSINESS LIFE: Lift Off puts firm on new flightpath; Investment will help Jet Blades diversify
The objective of the Lift Off programme is to ensure that the West Midlands maintains a sustainable and world-class aerospace industry, meeting current demands while at the same time preparing to capitalise on the imminent up-turn in the market.
MANUFACTURING : Lift Off for go-getting aerospace company
Lift Off will begin its campaign with a trade mission to Washington DC to meet US industry officials.
Aero group aims to reach for the sky to keep jobs
Spray the spot immediately from eight inches away and lift off.
Costume call
By pressing Silly Putty on a newspaper comic, kids lift off ink images and transfer them to, say, the kitchen table.
Semiconductor devices transfer like decals
Summary: TEL AVIV (Cihan)-Israel lift off a spy satellite to observe the Iranian nuclear program on Tuesday from Telaviv.
Israel Lifts off Spy Satellite
How many balloons would it take for you to lift off?
Lift off!
The family-run business at Small Heath has become one of the first in the region to receive support from Lift Off, a pounds 1.45 million programme designed to help component manufacturers in the West Midlands.
Manufacturing: Helping aerospace suppliers take off
Caudipteryx This dinosaur was a fast runner, but its feathers couldn't have helped it lift off the ground.
Fossil feud
The wind-tunnel data should reveal how to modify the wings' shape and plane's center of gravity so it can lift off. If all goes well, Cherne's group will fly into the friendly skies and relive history on December 17, 2003, the 100th anniversary of the first flight.
The Wright stuff
The first module, a Russian-built power engine called Functional Cargo Block (FGB, from the Russian name), is scheduled to lift off this fail on a Russian rocket.
Space city