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to peel off

to peel off

8 3.4
To take off the outer layer by pulling it
  • phrasal verb
  • /piːl ɔf/
translation icon : quitar
  • And I'm going to peel off the protective coating on one side.
  • peel off skin
  • peel off the layer
  • peel off their clothes

I'm going to peel off the little clear backing.

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Examples

  • Once our heart's painted, now we're going to gently peel off the sticker paper.

  • I believe these are dry, so I'm going to peel off the tape.

  • All you got to do is peel off the outside.

  • Now I get to peel off the protective paper.

  • All right, now we're going to attempt to peel off our masks.

  • I'm going to peel off the little clear backing.

  • All right, so we peel off these stickers over here.

  • Drew, please peel off the protective coating from your LED lights.

  • They've got this sticky bit here which you peel off and then you'd stick it to a surface.

  • To prepare the fruit for dessert, simply peel off the skin of the apple.

Synonyms

to take off
vsto peel off
1.5

To remove clothes or something from your body

focuses specifically on outer layer removal, often by pulling the covering away
to come off
vsto peel off
131 3.5

To become loose and fall off

usually requires active removal, not passive detachment
to rip out
vsto peel off
68 4.4

To pull something out quickly and with force, often to remove it completely

is the ordinary removal action, not always fast or violent
to strip
vsto peel off
42 2.7

Remove all covering or contents from an object so it is left bare

can mean taking only the outer layer instead of removing everything
to pull off
vsto peel off
41 2.7

To take something off from where it is attached

focuses on removing outer coverings rather than general detachment
to peel
vsto peel off
  • NSFW
39 7.7

Take off some or all clothes in a noticeable way

focuses on removing outer layers from objects, not on removing clothes socially
to strip away
vsto peel off
27 4.0

Remove an outside layer or covering from something to show what is under it

refers to physical outer layer removal rather than general elimination
to lift
vsto peel off
25 1.0

To take something off a surface carefully

focuses on outer layer removal rather than freeing whole objects
to tear out
vsto peel off
24 4.8

To pull something out with force

can be gentler and only remove the outer layer, not deep extraction
to chip away
vsto peel off
24 4.2

To make something smaller or weaker by removing small parts slowly

is typically done by removing layers whole rather than chipping them away
to wipe off
vsto peel off
20 1.0

Remove dirt or marks from a surface by rubbing with a cloth

is about removing a covering by pulling, not merely wiping away residue
to unwrap
vsto peel off
15 1.0

To take off paper or cloth that covers a gift

applies to outer layers beyond just packaging or wrapped items
to tear off
vsto peel off
12 3.0

To pull something off quickly until it rips

is generally gentler and does not require violent ripping
to slip off
vsto peel off
11 2.8

To take off quickly and easily, especially clothes or small items

is often slower or requires a deliberate pulling motion rather than ease
to peel back
vsto peel off
11 3.4

Remove a cover or layer by pulling it away slowly

is the general removal action that can be quicker and less careful
to skin
vsto peel off
10 2.7

To remove the outer layer from a fruit, vegetable, or animal

is more general and includes gentle pulling methods as alternatives
to pick off
vsto peel off
9 4.3

Pull things away one at a time

is about removing a full outer layer, not single pieces one by one
to strip off
vsto peel off
  • NSFW
9 3.7

To remove clothes or a cover completely and quickly

is the basic act of taking off an outer layer, not always total
to lop off
vsto peel off
9 4.6

To cut a part from something with one quick move

is often done by pulling the outer layer rather than cutting it off
to exfoliate
vsto peel off
8 6.2

To come off in thin layers, like peeling bark

is a manual action of removing layers, not natural shedding
to rub off
vsto peel off
5 3.4

Come off a surface when something moves against it

uses rubbing to remove residue, not deliberate removal of a covering
to cut away
vsto peel off
5 3.4

To remove a part from something with a knife or tool

involves cutting rather than the common pulling action for outer layers
to denude
vsto peel off
5 7.8

To remove a covering from something, leaving it bare

is a neutral simple act of outer layer removal, not a formal stripping
to flake off
vsto peel off
3 3.9

To come off a surface in small thin pieces

is an active removal by hand rather than passive flaking away
to file off
vsto peel off
3 5.2

To rub a surface with a small rough tool to remove something

is a cutting or scraping action rather than pulling an outer layer off
to unpeel
vsto peel off
1 3.4

To remove the outer covering from things like fruit or labels

applies to removing outer layers from anything, not only produce or labels
to sand off
vsto peel off
1 4.7

To remove the top layer of something by rubbing it with sandpaper

uses abrasion rather than the pulling method used for outer layers
to rub away
vsto peel off
1 3.4

Remove a mark by moving a cloth or hand over it many times

relies on friction and rubbing rather than pulling a layer away
to draw off
vsto peel off
1 4.2

To pull something away carefully, for example a bandage or tablecloth

is more general and can be less careful or deliberate in removal
to cream off
vsto peel off
1 4.8

To remove the top layer from a liquid using a spoon

is for removing solid outer layers rather than mainly dealing with liquids
to slough off
vsto peel off
  • Specialized
1 9.0

To come away from living tissue, for example dead skin leaving a wound

is an intentional human action rather than natural biological separation
to uncase
vsto peel off
7.8

To take something out of its cover

is about outer layer removal, not specifically about removing from enclosures
to rind
vsto peel off
8.1

To remove the outer skin from fruit or cheese

is not limited to thick outer layers or to specific food types
to undrape
vsto peel off
8.6

To take cloth coverings off something to show it

applies to any outer layer, not only fabric drapings or coverings
to decorticate
vsto peel off
  • Specialized
9.9

To remove the outer layer or covering from something, for example the bark of a tree

is the everyday action term rather than a technical or scientific word

Antonyms

1.0

To put something over another thing to protect or hide it

263 1.3

Put a substance onto a surface to cover it

How Exposed

to strip
42 2.7
to uncover
37 2.7
to peel off
8 3.4

Surface Forms

peel off infinitive
peeled off past
peeled off past participle
peeling off present participle
peels off third person singular

Morphology

peel + off

The sense 'to leave a group or formation and move away' is partially inferable from 'peel' as 'detach' and 'off' as 'away/removal', so a learner who knows both words could guess a meaning involving separation and movement. However, using a peeling metaphor for people or vehicles leaving a formation is a figurative extension and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so it requires some exposure to this phrasal-verb use.

Etymology

Peel off: The phrasal verb peel off comes from the simple action of peel + off, like pulling the skin off an apple or banana in one piece. So it means 'to remove an outer layer'.