get off
2 meanings
start something in a particular way (often used in "get off to a ... start")
What does "get off" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The project has got off to a promising start, with all deadlines met so far.
- They got off to a rocky start, but the team eventually worked well together.
- I want us to get off to a flying start, so please come prepared to the first meeting.
How to use it
This is the core fixed construction — always include an adjective before 'start' to describe the quality of the beginning.
The new season got off to a flying start, with three wins in a row.
You can occasionally use 'beginning' instead of 'start', though 'start' is far more common.
The partnership got off to a shaky beginning, but things improved quickly.
The infinitive form is often used after modal-like expressions when talking about goals or plans.
We need to get off to a strong start if we want to win the competition.
The present perfect is common when talking about something that has recently begun and you can already see how it is going.
The campaign has got off to a promising start, with lots of public interest.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
You must always include an adjective to describe the kind of start. Saying 'get off to a start' without a modifier is not natural English.
'Start off' is more flexible and can be used in many different structures, but 'get off to a ... start' is a fixed expression that always needs the full pattern with an adjective. They are not always interchangeable.
In this meaning, the noun after the adjective must be 'start' or occasionally 'beginning' — not other nouns like 'way' or 'point'.
Usage
This phrase is neutral and very common in both spoken and written English, especially in sports, business, and news contexts. It is used the same way in both British and American English.
avoid serious trouble or punishment, especially from the law
Sense 2: What does "get off" mean?
Examples
- I can't believe he got off after everything he did — the jury must have been convinced by his lawyer.
- She got off lightly with just a small fine, considering how serious the offence was.
- Do you think he'll get off if the case goes to trial, or will there finally be a conviction?
How to use it
The core intransitive pattern — the subject is the person who avoids punishment, and no object follows.
Everyone expected a conviction, but somehow she got off.
An adverb is added after 'off' to emphasise how little punishment the person received.
He got off lightly with just a formal apology after the whole scandal.
Use 'with' to specify the minor penalty the person did receive, highlighting that it was less than expected.
The company got off with a small fine despite years of regulatory violations.
This fixed collocation describes avoiding punishment because of a legal or procedural loophole rather than actual innocence.
The case against him was strong, but he got off on a technicality.
Modal verbs are commonly used to speculate about whether someone will or might avoid punishment.
Do you really think she'll get off if it goes to trial?
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
In this sense, 'get off' is intransitive — it cannot be followed directly by a noun referring to the crime or charge. If you want to specify what someone escaped, use a different structure.
'Get away with' requires a direct object — the crime or bad action — while 'get off' focuses on the outcome of escaping punishment and takes no object. They are related in meaning but not interchangeable in structure.
Saying 'he is getting off' in this sense sounds unnatural and ambiguous, because the present continuous clashes with the idea of a completed legal outcome. Use the simple past, present simple, or a modal construction instead.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken conversation and written journalism. It often carries a tone of surprise or disapproval, suggesting the person deserved stricter consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'get off to a good start' have the same meaning as 'start off well'?
They are similar in meaning, but 'get off to a good start' is a fixed expression with a stronger, slightly more idiomatic feel. 'Start off well' is more general and flexible. In many situations you can use either, but 'get off to a good start' puts more emphasis on the quality of the opening phase.
What adjectives can I use with 'get off to a ... start'?
There are many options. Positive ones include 'good', 'great', 'strong', 'promising', and 'flying'. Negative ones include 'bad', 'rocky', 'slow', 'shaky', and 'poor'. 'Flying start' is especially idiomatic — it means a very fast or impressive beginning.
Can I use 'get off to a good start' in the present continuous, like 'is getting off to a good start'?
It is grammatically possible but sounds a little awkward. The past simple and present perfect are much more natural for this phrase. Try 'has got off to a good start' or 'got off to a good start' instead.
Does 'get off' here mean the same as in 'get off the bus'?
No, these are completely different meanings. 'Get off to a ... start' means to begin something in a particular way. 'Get off the bus' means to leave a vehicle. The fixed 'to a [adjective] start' structure is what tells you which meaning is being used.
Can I use this phrase for people as well as things?
Yes, both people and things can be subjects. You can say 'She got off to a great start in her new job' or 'The project got off to a slow start'. Any subject that has a clear beginning phase works naturally with this expression.
Does 'get off' always suggest that the outcome was unfair?
Not always, but it very often carries that implication. When someone 'gets off', there is usually a sense of surprise or disapproval — the speaker often feels the person deserved a harsher penalty. In neutral legal reporting it can be more objective, but in everyday conversation the phrase tends to suggest injustice.
What does 'get off on a technicality' mean exactly?
It means someone avoided punishment not because they were innocent, but because of a procedural or legal flaw — for example, evidence being collected incorrectly or a form being filed wrongly. This phrase strongly implies that the outcome was unjust, even if it was legally valid.
Can 'get off' be used outside of legal or courtroom situations?
Yes — while it is very common in legal contexts, you can also use it when someone avoids consequences in other settings, such as workplace discipline, school rules, or any situation where accountability was expected. For example, 'He got off without even a warning after missing three deadlines' works perfectly well.
What is the difference between 'get off' and 'get someone off'?
'Get off' (intransitive) describes the person who avoids punishment themselves. 'Get someone off' is a different, transitive structure where another person — often a lawyer — helps someone escape punishment. For example, 'The lawyer got her off' means the lawyer secured her acquittal. These are related but distinct patterns.
Is 'get off' used in both British and American English?
Yes, it is well established in both varieties and appears regularly in journalism and everyday speech on both sides of the Atlantic. The collocations 'get off lightly', 'get off scot-free', and 'get off on a technicality' are natural and widely understood in both contexts.
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