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offing




Definitions

English > English
offing
     1. n. (nautical) 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.
     2. n. (nautical) The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.
     3. n. (figuratively) The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.
off
     1. adv. In a direction away from the speaker or object.
           He drove off in a cloud of smoke.
     2. adv. Into a state of non-operation; into a state of non-existence.
           Please switch off the light when you leave.
           die off
     3. adv. So as to be removed or separated.
           He bit off more than he could chew.
           Some branches were sawn off.
     4. adj. Inoperative, disabled.
           All the lights are off.
     5. adj. Rancid, rotten.
           This milk is off!
     6. adj. (cricket) In, or towards the half of the field away from the batsman's legs; the right side for a right-handed batsman.
     7. adj. Less than normal, in temperament or in result.
           sales are off this quarter
     8. adj. Circumstanced (as in well off, better off, poorly off).
     9. adj. Started on the way.
           off to see the wizard
           And they're off! Whatsmyname takes an early lead, with Remember The Mane behind by a nose.
     10. adj. Far; off to the side.
           the off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the nigh or near horse
     11. adj. Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is absent from a post, and, hence, a time when affairs are not urgent.
           He took an off day for fishing.  an off year in politics; the off season
     12. adj. (of a dish on a menu) Presently unavailable.
           — I'll have the chicken please.
           — Sorry, chicken's off today.
     13. adj. Right-hand (in relation to the side of a horse or a vehicle).
     14. prep. Used to indicate movement away from a position on
           I took it off the table.
           Come off the roof!
     15. prep. (colloquial) Out of the possession of.
           He didn't buy it off him. He stole it off him.
     16. prep. Away from or not on.
           He's off the computer, but he's still on the phone.
           Keep off the grass.
     17. prep. Disconnected or subtracted from.
           We've been off the grid for three days now.
           He took 20% off the list price.
     18. prep. Distant from.
           We're just off the main road.
           The island is 23 miles off the cape.
     19. prep. No longer wanting or taking.
           He's been off his feed since Tuesday.
           He's off his meds again.
     20. prep. Placed after a number (of products or parts, as if a unit), in commerce or engineering(topics, en, Engineering).
           Tantalum bar 6 off 3/8" Dia × 12" — Atom, Great Britain Atomic Energy Authority, 1972
           samples submitted … 12 off Thermistors type 1K3A531 … — BSI test report for shock and vibration testing, 2000
           I'd like to re-order those printer cartridges, let's say 5-off.
     21. v. (transitive, slang) To kill.
           He got in the way so I had him offed.
     22. v. (transitive, Singapore, Philippines) To switch off.
           Can you off the light?
     23. n. (rare) Beginning; starting point.
           He has been very obviously an untrustworthy narrator right from the off.

Example Sentences

There is also concern that her accounts of events could differ substantially from those of her husband, who also has a memoir in the offing



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