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to push off

to push off

17 6.8
Leave a place or start a journey
  • phrasal verb
  • /pʊʃ ɔf/
  • Informal
: irse
  • Push off!
  • push off from a dock
  • ready to push off
  • then push off

So I literally, I push off the side and then just go into a back float.

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Examples

Synonyms

to leave
vsto push off
∞ 1.0

To go away from a place, person, or group

is informal wording focused on starting a journey
to get out
vsto push off
∞ 1.0

Leave a place or situation

is informal and often used for starting travel
to get out of here
vsto push off
  • Informal
∞ 3.0

Leave a place quickly or suddenly

is informal leaving used for ordinary trip beginnings
to go away
vsto push off
926 1.0

To leave a place or person and go somewhere else

is informal and often implies starting travel
to walk away
vsto push off
876 3.5

Leave a person, place, or situation without taking part anymore

is informal leaving that can be planned rather than urgent
to walk out
vsto push off
  • Informal
805 3.4

Leave a place suddenly because you are angry or protesting

is informal leaving and can be used for normal departures
to take off
vsto push off
549 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

is informal phrasing for ordinary trip starts
to run out
vsto push off
361 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is informal departure often just meaning a journey start
to pull out
vsto push off
228 3.4

To stop being involved in an activity or agreement

is informal physical departure rather than formal withdrawal
to depart
vsto push off
170 1.3

To leave a place to start a journey

is the informal version used for casual trip starts
to pull away
vsto push off
153 3.5

To move away from people or a place to create space

is informal departure focused on travel rather than distance
to walk off
vsto push off
  • Informal
106 3.5

To leave a place suddenly to show you are angry or upset

is informal departure that may be neutral or travel oriented
to blow
vsto push off
  • Informal
59 8.4

To leave a place quickly or suddenly

is informal and can mean a simple journey start
to take a hike
vsto push off
  • Informal
36 8.1

Tell someone to leave in a rude way

is informal leaving without necessarily being rude
to take leave
vsto push off
  • Formal
30 3.9

Say goodbye to people and go away from a place politely

is informal and usually lacks formal farewells
to rush off
vsto push off
24 3.8

Leave suddenly because you are in a hurry

is informal leaving that may be unhurried
to shove off
vsto push off
  • Informal
17 7.7

Leave a place quickly, often in a rude way

is informal and can mean leaving or starting a trip
to buzz off
vsto push off
  • Offensive
14 8.4

To tell someone to go away right away in a rude or angry way

is informal departure phrasing not functioning as an insult
to peel off
vsto push off
10 4.1

To leave a group and move away in a different direction

is informal and can mean a full journey start
to hit the bricks
vsto push off
  • Informal
7 9.5

To leave a place, often to walk somewhere or to look for work

is informal departing often used for simple trip starts
to pop off
vsto push off
  • UK
6 7.9

To leave a place quickly, often without saying goodbye

is informal and can mean a calm journey start
to rush away
vsto push off
4 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is informal departure that is not always urgent
to fly the coop
vsto push off
  • Informal
4 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

is informal leaving that does not imply escape
to pop out
vsto push off
  • Informal
3 3.2

To leave a place for a short time to do something

is informal leaving that can imply a longer trip
to blow this popsicle stand
vsto push off
  • Informal
2 9.9

To leave a place quickly because you do not want to be there

is informal departure not necessarily due to dislike
to duck off
vsto push off
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To leave quickly and quietly or tell someone rudely to go away

is informal departure usually less discreet or rude
off like a dirty shirt
vsto push off
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Leave a place very quickly

is informal departure that can be less rapid
to shove along
vsto push off
  • Informal
1 8.1

To leave a place quickly, often in a rude way

is informal leaving without necessarily being rude
to cut his stick
vsto push off
  • UK
9.9

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid trouble

is informal departure that may be planned or casual
to take your hook
vsto push off
  • Archaic
9.9

Leave a place quickly because you are not welcome

is informal and can mean simply beginning a journey
to go offski
vsto push off
  • Slang
9.9

To leave a place suddenly, usually to go somewhere else

is informal but may be more neutral or less eager

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

215 3.7

To stay in a place longer than expected because you do not want to leave

How Quickly

to storm off
  • Informal
14 4.5
to take off
549 3.2
to push off
  • Informal
17 6.8
to leave
∞ 1.0
to linger
215 3.7

Surface Forms

push off infinitive
pushed off past
pushed off past participle
pushing off present participle
pushes off third person singular

Morphology

push + off

The meaning 'to leave' or 'to start a journey' follows directly from combining 'push' (apply force to move) with 'off' (away from a surface/place): the image of pushing away to begin movement maps clearly onto departing. This verb+particle compositional pattern is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb push off comes from small boats. To start a trip people would push the boat off the shore with their hands or a pole. That's why push off now means 'to leave' or 'go away'.