bounce off

bounce off (of) (someone or something)

1. Of a thing, to deflect or reflect off of a surface. I caught the rubber ball when it bounced off the wall. The light bouncing off of that mirror is blinding me—can we close the curtains?
2. Of a person, to tell something to someone in order to solicit feedback about it. In this usage, a noun is used between "bounce" and "off." I bounced the idea of becoming an actress off of my friends before discussing it with my parents. Hey, can I bounce something off of you guys?
See also: bounce, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bounce something off (of) someone or something

 
1. Lit. to make something rebound off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) She bounced the ball off the wall, turned, and tossed it to Wally. She bounced the ball off of Harry, into the wastebasket.
2. and bounce something off Fig. to try an idea or concept out on someone or a group. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Let me bounce off this idea, if I may. Can I bounce something off of you people, while you're here?
See also: bounce, off

bounce off (of something)

to rebound from something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The ball bounced off the wall and struck a lamp. It hit the wall and bounced off.
See also: bounce, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

bounce off

v.
1. To cause something to rebound from something: She bounced the tennis ball off the wall.
2. To rebound from something or someone: The basketball hit the rim and bounced off.
3. To present some idea or thought to someone for comment or approval: I have been thinking about what we should do next, so let me bounce a few ideas off you.
See also: bounce, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • bounce off (of) (someone or something)
  • bounce something off of someone
  • bounce something off someone
  • (I've) got to take off
  • bounce off the walls
  • be well off for (something)
  • be well off for something
  • be off the wall
  • be off for (something)
  • be off for sth
References in periodicals archive
just bounce off "They must also be the oldest people to have a Facebook page.
THE INSTAGRANS; Britain's oldest identical twins become social media sensations at 95
But at sunrise or nset, when the sun is w on the horizon, the rays must pass through f the atmosphere - and bounce off more molecules.
Sunrise makes dramatic arrival
The goal was to sculpt a beam of sound waves to bounce off the target and then scatter in the direction opposite from the source of the beam.
Tractor beam tugs on objects with sound: ultrasound machine pulls on a target visible to the naked eye
Whether you can see it or not, if it is there, the radio waves can bounce off it.
Making waves in radio
When microwaves strike the ring, very few bounce off it.
Invisibility ring
GOLF: A lucky bounce off the rocks for a closing birdie gave Luke Donald something to smile about after a difficult day at Pebble Beach in the AT&T National Pro-Am.
Golf: Donald relief at rocky ride
You close the hood and drive away, and they can bounce off into oblivion.
Ready wrenches
And who else has to overlook his sore and bruised hands day in and day out, be able to bounce back after being struck by the bat or ball, bounce off fences, and be battered to the ground while blocking the plate?
Job description for the catcher. (Baseball)
(Minneapolis, MN), suggests using his company's LT3 laser sensor, which measures the time for laser light to bounce off a surface three to five meters away.
Sensors to improve operational--and product--performance. (Produce)
According to the ship's Web site, an unidentified sailor shouted, "Huzzah, her sides are made of iron!" when British cannonballs appeared to bounce off the thick wooden sides.
MTMC shipment: donated oak timbers take on new life in USS Constitution
No longer does "aerial dancer" only mean "trapeze artist." Sculptors, welders, and riggers create things to hang from, bounce off, and dance on.
Learning to dance on air
Bodies bounce off the ropes like a human pinball game.
Where Camp Meets Chokehold: Big-time wrestling gives punch to Mexican neighborhoods. (Travel Intelligence)
Alarm clock, switch it off normally or bounce off the floor.
STYLE FILE
Although the two aircraft seemed to bounce off each other their pilots managed to land safely with one suffering a grazed head.
Pilots on wing and a prayer as gliders bounce off each other
Ray Wallace rose above Colin Woodthorpe to get on the end of Tony Scully's 73rd minute cross but saw his header bounce off the top of the bar.
Irish rover grants County win over poor Potters; Stockport Co 1 Stoke City 0