bear off (of something)
bear off
1. To carry or transport someone or something away. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "bear" and "off." We sat teary-eyed on the platform as the train bore our only son off to college. A team of laborers began bearing off pieces of the debris one at a time. We watched in horror as the paramedics bore the unconscious patient off to the ER.
2. nautical To steer the boat away from the direction of the wind. The helmsman began shouting for the crew to bear off in order to gain a burst of speed from the increasing wind. Bear off, bear off! No, why are you turning into the wind? Bear off, lads! Westward ho!
3. nautical To steer the boat away from some obstruction or other hazard. Be sure to bear off those rocks. The last thing we need now is a breach in the hull. Bear off that other boat already! You're getting too close! Captain, bear off the shore!
4. In backgammon, to clear a checker off the board, the objective of the game. Now that all of his checkers are home, he can begin bearing off. You're bearing off already? Aw man, I'm gonna lose again, aren't I? I don't know the first thing about backgammon, to be honest. What is "bearing off," exactly?
bear off (of something)
To turn or veer off of a road. This phrase is often given as an instruction to someone who is driving. Now bear off of this road and then take the highway entrance to the right. Once you bear off to the right, you'll see their gigantic warehouse—you can't miss it. Once we bore off the main road, we were really in the middle of nowhere!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bear off (of something)
to turn off a road or course. Bear off the main road to the left. Don't bear off too sharply.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.