To be well off

To be well off
Off Off ([o^]f; 115), adv. [OE. of, orig. the same word as R. of, prep., AS. of, adv. & prep. [root]194. See {Of}.] In a general sense, denoting from or away from; as: [1913 Webster]

1. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off. [1913 Webster]

2. Denoting the action of removing or separating; separation; as, to take off the hat or cloak; to cut off, to pare off, to clip off, to peel off, to tear off, to march off, to fly off, and the like. [1913 Webster]

3. Denoting a leaving, abandonment, departure, abatement, interruption, or remission; as, the fever goes off; the pain goes off; the game is off; all bets are off. [1913 Webster]

4. Denoting a different direction; not on or towards: away; as, to look off. [1913 Webster]

5. Denoting opposition or negation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The questions no way touch upon puritanism, either off or on. --Bp. Sanderson. [1913 Webster]

{From off}, off from; off. ``A live coal . . . taken with the tongs from off the altar.'' --Is. vi. 6.

{Off and on}. (a) Not constantly; not regularly; now and then; occasionally. (b) (Naut.) On different tacks, now toward, and now away from, the land.

{To be off}. (a) To depart; to escape; as, he was off without a moment's warning. (b) To be abandoned, as an agreement or purpose; as, the bet was declared to be off. [Colloq.]

{To come off}, {To cut off}, {To fall off}, {To go off}, etc. See under {Come}, {Cut}, {Fall}, {Go}, etc.

{To get off}. (a) To utter; to discharge; as, to get off a joke. (b) To go away; to escape; as, to get off easily from a trial. [Colloq.]

{To take off} {To do a take-off on}, {To take off}, to mimic, lampoon, or impersonate.

{To tell off} (a) (Mil.), to divide and practice a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises. --Farrow. (b) to rebuke (a person) for an improper action; to scold; to reprimand.

{To be well off}, to be in good condition.

{To be ill off}, {To be badly off}, to be in poor condition. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • well-off — Ⅰ. well off UK US (also well off) /ˌwelˈɒf/ adjective ► rich: »My old customers were well off, middle aged people. »Grants are available for less well off families. ► used to describe a place where rich people live: »He grew up in a well off… …   Financial and business terms

  • Well off — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • well-off — adj comparative better off superlative best off 1.) having a lot of money, or enough money to have a good standard of living ≠ ↑badly off ▪ children from well off families ▪ Many pensioners are less well off (=have less money) than they used to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • well-off — {adj. phr.} 1. Rich. * /They may not be millionaires, but they are sufficiently well off./ 2. In good condition; free of problems or difficulties./ * /He is pleased that his business is well off./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • well-off — {adj. phr.} 1. Rich. * /They may not be millionaires, but they are sufficiently well off./ 2. In good condition; free of problems or difficulties./ * /He is pleased that his business is well off./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • well off — ˌwell ˈoff , well off adjective having more money than other people, or enough money to live comfortably: • There should be some safeguards to protect less well off people who live on fixed, low incomes. opposite badly off …   Financial and business terms

  • well-off — 1733, comfortable, from WELL (Cf. well) (adv.) + OFF (Cf. off). Meaning prosperous, not poor is recorded from 1849 …   Etymology dictionary

  • well-off — adjective INFORMAL rich, or having enough money to live well: They worked long hours and became very well off …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • well-off — [adj] successful, wealthy affluent, comfortable, easy, flourishing, flush, fortunate, loaded, lucky, moneyed, prosperous, rich, snug, substantial, thriving, well, well to do; concept 334 Ant. destitute, failing, poor, unsuccessful …   New thesaurus

  • well-off — well′ off′ adj. 1) well to do; prosperous 2) in a satisfactory, favorable, or good position or condition • Etymology: 1725–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • well-off — [wel′ôf′] adj. 1. in a favorable or fortunate condition or circumstance 2. prosperous; well to do …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”