number off

number off

1. To identify with a particular number in a sequence. The students all numbered off, and the teacher grouped everyone with an even number on one side of the room while everyone with an odd number went to the other side. We numbered off in sets of five for the group activity.
2. To assign someone or something with a particular number in a sequence. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "number" and "off." The coach numbered the players off into groups of five to practice different drills in rotation for the rest of the day. The class is too big to do the work all together, so we'll have to number off the students and have them complete the assignment in smaller groups.
See also: number, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

number off (by something)

to say a number in a specified sequence when it is one's turn. Please number off by tens. Come on, number off!
See also: number, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • do a number on, to
  • number of things or people
  • a number of
  • a number of (something)
  • A number 1
  • any number of
  • digit
  • double-deuces
  • number one
  • a number one
References in periodicals archive
One of the syndicate said: "We won a second prize, but were only one number off the top prize.
City pals scoop pounds 57,000 on Lotto
The keeper can also take the number off the vehicle and retain it until he or she wants to put it on another car.
HOW TO KEEP SPECIAL PLATE; JUDGE TREAD
* Leave your home address and phone number off your checks.
Protect against identity theft
THIS coming Sunday sees Sittingbourne stage its last Sunday meeting of the year, and the track is putting on a gala card, with a number off pounds 400 one-offs supporting its three finals (heats were on Sunday).
Elvis stars at Sunday gala
Another approach is to have students in each row number off (1-2-3), and then to ask for each group of three to discuss an issue or question posed by the instructor with a number of alternative options or answers, such as those described earlier.
The high touch classroom: small group learning in large class contexts. (The scholarship of teaching and learning)
IN AN AGE WHEN SPY SATELLITES CAN read the number off your car's license plate, one would think that scientists had long ago mapped every nook and cranny of the Earth's surface.
Here's Looking at You
I asked her how she knew his number off by heart and she mumbled some excuse which I didn't believe for a minute.
Dear Wendy: I'm suspicious of my girlfriend
"It was only a couple of minutes later that someone said we were only one number off so the cheers turned into glum looks, thinking 'We were so close'."
Lotto group one number from [euro]7m
I should have known from the telephone code on the new system but did not believe they would actually take their Huddersfield number off and put in an 0843 at the variable national rates they can charge.
Caught out; MAILBAG
So take this number off your list And do it spit spot.
READERS' POEMS
The scheme remains impractical and drives a large number off the hill and upland areas of Scotland.
Food for thought; Yourview
In Sefton, the average number off on any day was 104, with a total loss of 20,420 working days across the year, while in Wirral, the daily average was 90, amounting to 17,560 over the year.
CITY TEACHERS HAVE HIGHEST SICKNESS RATE
If a goal is scored during that minute in any of today's 39 Premiership or Football League matches, you cross the number off. Five points are awarded for each correct number, 25 for all four corners, 25 for any horizontal line and 100 for a full house of all 15 numbers.
Spreadwise: Hills open for Bingo
She was just one number off winning the [euro]21.5million jackpot, which was scooped by a ticket sold in the UK.
Cheers for [euro]330k win in Euro draw
The wannabe 'It' girl bumped into the singer at an all-night party in London two months ago and he later got her number off mutual friend Max Beesley.
the RAZZ: No thanks, Rob