Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To cause someone to be acquitted or avoid punishment, especially in a legal context.
   • To send or dispatch something, often via a postal or delivery service.
   • To utter or deliver a remark, joke, or line, especially a clever or effective one.
   • To experience intense pleasure or stimulation, often of a sexual nature, from a specific object or activity.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To leave a vehicle, aircraft, bicycle, or horse; to alight.
   • To leave work with permission, often at the end of a shift or for a break.
   • To escape serious consequences or punishment for an action.
   • To become intoxicated by drugs; to get high.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Transitive):

  • The expensive lawyer managed to get his client off. (The lawyer secured an acquittal for his client.)
  • I need to get this package off by noon. (I need to dispatch/send this package by noon.)
  • He got off a great joke at the start of his speech. (He delivered a great joke.)
  • Some people really get off on loud, fast music. (Some people derive great pleasure from it.)

• Verb (Intransitive):

  • Please get off at the next bus stop. (Please disembark/alight at the next bus stop.)
  • I get off work at 5 PM. (I finish/leave work at 5 PM.)
  • He cheated on the test but somehow got off with just a warning. (He avoided severe punishment.)
  • They got off on some strange substance at the party. (They became high/intoxicated.)

Advanced Usage

• "get off on the right/wrong foot": To start an endeavor or relationship well or poorly.
  • We got off on the wrong foot by being late to the first meeting.
• "get off one's chest": To confess or talk about something that has been worrying one.
  • He needed to get his guilt off his chest.
• "get off the ground": To start or begin successfully, especially a project.
  • The new initiative has struggled to get off the ground.

Variants and Related Words

• Getoff (noun, informal): An instance of experiencing sexual pleasure. (e.g., ). Note: This is a slang compound.
• Send-off (noun): A celebratory demonstration of goodwill at a departure. While related to the "dispatch" meaning, it is a distinct compound noun.

Synonyms

• Alight / Disembark: For leaving a vehicle.
• Dispatch / Mail: For sending something.
• Escape / Avoid: For evading consequences.
• Utter / Deliver: For saying something.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Get off with (someone) (informal, chiefly UK): To kiss or have a sexual encounter with someone.
  • He got off with her at the club.
• Get off on (something): To be excited or aroused by something.
  • He gets off on being in control.

Related Idioms

• Get off your high horse: Stop acting in a superior or arrogant manner.
  • You need to get off your high horse and listen to us.
• Get off the hook: To escape from a difficult situation or avoid blame.
  • Her testimony got me off the hook.
• Get off scot-free: To escape punishment entirely.
  • The corrupt official got off scot-free due to a technicality.

Verb

1. deliver verbally
   • He got off the best line I've heard in a long time
2. get high, stoned, or drugged
   • He trips every weekend
3. send via the postal service
   • I'll mail you the check tomorrow
4. get out of quickly
   • The officer hopped out when he spotted an illegally parked car
5. alight from (a horse)
6. enjoy in a sexual way
   • He gets off on shoes
7. escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action
   • She gets away with murder!
   • I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities
8. cause to be acquitted; get off the hook; in a legal case
   • The lawyer got him off, even though there was no doubt in everybody's mind that he killed his wife
9. transfer
   • The spy sent the classified information off to Russia
10. be relieved of one's duties temporarily
11. leave a vehicle, aircraft, etc.