1. leave or gain success suddenly
Professional
Social
take off in the opposite direction
This phrasal verb has many different meanings, but a common theme that runs through most of them is that of removing somebody or something, or leaving, often in an energetic way. If a plane or bird etc. 'takes off,' it leaves the ground and begins to fly. This is also used in a figurative sense to refer to a sudden rise in the success or popularity of something. "The trend for juicing has really taken off." Also, if you 'take-off' from a place, you leave it, often hurriedly. If you remove someone or something from a place, list, or thing, you can use 'take off'. For example, if you remove an item of clothing or your name from a list, you 'take it off.' Similarly, if you temporarily remove yourself from a job or responsibility, you 'take time off,' or if you remove a portion of the cost or price of something, like in a sale, you 'take money off.'. This versatile phrasal verb is common in both social and professional contexts.