{in the offing} (a) coming; arriving in the foreseeable future. (b) visible but not nearby. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
offing — (n.) in phrase in the offing, 1779, from nautical term offing the more distant part of the sea as seen from the shore (1620s), from OFF (Cf. off) (q.v.) + noun suffix ING (Cf. ing) (1). Originally the phrase meant in the distant future, modern… … Etymology dictionary
offing — ► NOUN ▪ the more distant part of the sea in view. ● in the offing Cf. ↑in the offing … English terms dictionary
offing — [ôf′iŋ] n. [< OFF1] 1. the distant part of the sea visible from the shore 2. a position at a distance from the shore in the offing 1. at some distance but in sight 2. at some indefinite time in the future … English World dictionary
offing — off|ing [ˈɔfıŋ US ˈo: , ˈa: ] n [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: offing part of the deep sea that you can see from the shore (17 20 centuries), from off] be in the offing to be likely to happen soon ▪ Big changes were in the offing … Dictionary of contemporary English
offing — /aw fing, of ing/, n. 1. the more distant part of the sea seen from the shore, beyond the anchoring ground. 2. a position at a distance from shore. 3. in the offing, a. at a distance but within sight. b. in the projected future; likely to happen … Universalium
offing — noun /ˈɒfɪŋ,ˈɑfɪŋ,ˈɔfɪŋ/ a) The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground. I came to an Anchor in seven fathomes water in the offing to Sea. b)… … Wiktionary
offing — n. in the offing ( forthcoming ) * * * [ ɒfɪŋ] in the offing ( forthcoming ) … Combinatory dictionary
offing — off|ing [ ɔfıŋ ] noun in the offing likely to happen very soon: We have several projects in the offing … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
offing — [[t]ɒ̱fɪŋ, AM ɔ͟ːf [/t]] PHRASE: v link PHR If you say that something is in the offing, you mean that it is likely to happen soon. A general amnesty for political prisoners may be in the offing. Syn: imminent … English dictionary
offing — noun be in the offing to be about to happen or to be possible: Everything s topsy turvy at the moment with this big trip in the offing … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
