verb To leave or depart, especially quickly or abruptly.
In competitive sports, 'be off' can refer to the starting of a race or competition, as in 'The runners will be off in a few minutes.'
Pilots use the phrase 'be off' to indicate that a flight has departed or is in the process of taking off.
In informal language, 'be off' can mean to leave or go away, often used in phrases like 'I'll be off now.'
In a professional context, 'be off' can be used by a writer to indicate that they are taking a break from writing or that they have finished a particular piece of writing.
Psychologists may use 'be off' to refer to a client who is not currently seeking therapy or to describe a period of time when they are not available to see patients.
Chefs may use 'be off' to indicate that a particular ingredient or dish is not available or to signal that they are taking a break from cooking.
Teachers may use 'be off' to refer to a student who is absent from class or to describe a period of time when they are not teaching, such as during school holidays.