come off

British  

verb

1. (also preposition) to fall (from), losing one's balance

2. to become detached or be capable of being detached

3. (preposition) to be removed from (a price, tax, etc)

   will anything come off income tax in the budget?

4. (copula) to emerge from or as if from a trial or contest

   he came off the winner

5. informal to take place or happen

6. informal to have the intended effect; succeed

   his jokes did not come off

7. slang to have an orgasm

8. informal stop trying to fool me!

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come off Idioms  

1. Happen, occur, as in The trip came off on schedule . [Early 1800s]

2. Acquit oneself, reach the end. This usage always includes a modifier, as in Whenever challenged he comes off badly , or This model is doomed to come off second-best . [Mid-1600s]

3. Succeed, as in Our dinner party really came off . [Mid-1800s]

4. See come off it .

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Example Sentences

It really shouldn’t be surprising that Kempczinski can come off as a corporate stiff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

That means a lot of 2023 EVs are about to come off lease, and more supply could push prices down in the coming months.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

“Prices will come off on the other side,” Bessent said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 22, 2026

“In the end, we need volatility to come off before committing more capital,” they say.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

“Now come off there before the sea or something in it devours your semi-worthless hide.”

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• go off
• go over
• pan out