remove

at one remove

Indirectly; with a degree of separation. Primarily heard in UK. I didn't go to college, but my sister did, so I got to experience college life at one remove.
See also: one, remove

remove from (someone or something)

1. To physically take someone or something out of something or some place. A noun or pronoun is used between "remove" and "from." Be sure not to remove the USB device from the computer until it is finished transferring all of the information. They removed the prisoner from his holding cell and brought him to the courtroom.
2. To extract something from someone or someone's body. A noun or pronoun is used between "remove" and "from." We'll need to remove the bullet from him if we're going to stop the bleeding. I used a pair of tweezers to remove the bits of glass from her hand.
3. To take someone or something out of someone's custody. A noun or pronoun is used between "remove" and "from." Social services removed the children from the abusive parents. We've removed dozens of animals from people suspected of organizing or participating in the illegal dogfighting ring.
4. To oust someone from a job, position, or public office. A noun or pronoun is used between "remove" and "from." They plan on removing the prime minster from power after gaining control of parliament. The board voted unanimously to remove the CEO from his position.
See also: remove

three moves are as bad as a fire

1. Moving one's business or household naturally incurs such losses and damages to one's property that moving three times would be equal to what one would lose in a fire. An adaptation of the quote by Benjamin Franklin that "three removes are as bad as a fire." I've had to move so many times in pursuit of stable employment, and I've lost track of all the things I've misplaced or broken in the process. I guess it's true what they say—three moves are as bad as a fire.
2. By extension, effecting too much change too quickly can result in much greater difficulties or misfortunes than one might face by staying the course or remaining steadfast. Three moves are as bad as a fire, as the adage goes, and in these economically volatile times, the government's plans to overhaul every aspect of the country's public services is not simply foolish—it's downright dangerous.
See also: bad, fire, move, three
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

remove someone from something

to take someone out of an office or position. The county board removed the sheriff from office. She removed herself from office voluntarily.
See also: remove

remove someone or something from someone or something

to take someone or something away from someone or something. The authorities removed the child from his mother. They removed the dog from the kennel.
See also: remove
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • at one remove
  • give (something) the (old) college try
  • give something the old college try
  • old college try
  • old college try, the
  • the (old) college try
  • Graystone College
  • Joe College
  • old college try, (give it) the
  • townie
References in periodicals archive
To disassemble the Angle Eject bolt, remove the firing pin straight out the rear of the bolt.
The Winchester Model 94: a fresh look at what's gone on inside Browning's classic!
The ADA formulation also notable for its ability to remove both arsenite and arsenate, and its effectiveness at a wider pH range of 6.5-8.5.
Metal attraction: an ironclad solution to arsenic contamination?
Typical models are certified to remove a spectrum of contaminants.
Easy water filtering: how to choose an optimal system
Remove from heat and spread mixture evenly over dough; sprinkle with anchovies and olives.
Beignet done that
"The landlords are putting in their agreements that service providers remove the wiring or cabling when they leave," said Al Lyons, Building Owners and Managers chairman of telecommunications task force.
New wiring standards could cost millions
The Court said that the First Amendment places limitations on when school officials can remove books from libraries and that school boards may not remove books because they find them offensive.
Freedom of speech. (You be the Judge!)
To remove applications properly, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon to open the dialogue box, select Install/Uninstall and scroll through the list of applications until you locate the one you wish to remove from your computer.
Click it: Programs are harder to remove
The principle behind a hazard tree program is to first identify and remove those hazards that offer a clear, immediate threat, and then to create a management plan for the other trees.
Hazard tree management for camps
* Shorten or remove leaders and branches competing with the main leader.
Appendix 6 A plan for training shade trees in the urban landscape
Collect the remaining pennies and toss them again; remove the pennies that landed tail side up and place them in a second column.
Get a HALF-LIFE
Surgery is then required to remove the ruptured implant and replace it, if desired.
SURGICAL RISKS OF IMPLANTS
In March, we learned of a product used in Australia that would remove the crystals and neutralize the offending enzymes.
Our breakthorugh attack on urine odors
This program has a user-friendly interface and easily finds and removes low usage, duplicate and redundant files.
Utilities are like a box of chocolates; you never quite know what you're going to get, but it's a sure bet you'll need at least one
As a condition to securing a bank loan to expand its facility, the taxpayer in the TAM was required to (i) remove the asbestos from the boiler house and (ii) encapsulate the asbestos contained in pipe insulation in the warehouse.
Tax treatment of asbestos abatement costs: November 6, 1996
Sometimes a patient cannot control vomiting and needs to have a tube through the nose to the stomach to remove fluid and air.
Pancreatitis