make off

verb

made off; making off; makes off

intransitive verb

: to leave in haste

Phrases

make off with

: to take away

especially : grab, steal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Bowman said preliminary indications show the men allegedly were trying to take copper wire from the site, but were not able to make off with anything. —Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2023

In 2020, 20 protesters were arrested for blocking trucks, while seven others were cited for entering the plant and trying to make off with a pig. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2023

Though these changes were approved to ostensibly make access to food easier during the pandemic, authorities argue that Feeding Our Future exploited them to make off with millions. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2022

Meanwhile, in California, jewelry store workers fought off several smash-and-grabbers who attempted to make off with valuable gems. —Adam Shaw, Fox News, 1 June 2022

But the truck wasn’t the only thing the man allegedly tried to make off with—the vehicle was also filled with over 1,000 pairs of Kanye West’s coveted sneakers in the back. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2022

Three men make off with a huge amount of cash from a Harlem bookmaking operation, killing five gangsters (two of whom are Mafiosi) and two cops. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2021

As the adults sat around talking, Hadley plotted to make off with the ramekins of almonds and glasses of wine. —Gideon Lewis-kraus, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021

Yes, the Beatles wanted to hold your hand, but the Stones wanted to pillage your village, make off with its women, and salt the earth on the way out of town. —Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2021

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Word History

First Known Use

circa 1680, in the meaning defined above