O - 462

Question 1

by one’s own choice, without coercion.

Answer 1

1.I wish that Sally would choose to do it of her own accord. 2.I’ll have to order her to do it because she won’t do it of her own free will.

Question 2

helping someone; serving someone.

Answer 2

1.Good morning, madam. May I be of service to you? 2.Welcome to the Warwick Hotel. May I be of service?

Question 3

Fig. of the finest quality

Answer 3

1.This is a very fine pearl—a pearl of the first water. 2.Tom is of the first water—a true gentleman.

Question 4

holding a belief that something is true or is in existence.

Answer 4

1.Anne is of the persuasion that supports that candidate for mayor. 2.The paranoid was of the persuasion that aliens lived among us.

Question 5

Fig. holding conflicting opinions about someone or something; being undecided about someone or something.

Answer 5

1.I am of two minds about whether I should go to the convention.

Question 6

Lit. [of horses, dogs, or people] having started racing.

Answer 6

1.It’s a beautiful day at the races, and, yes, they’re off and running!

Question 7

Fig. started up and going.

Answer 7

1.The car was finally loaded by 9:30, and we were off and running. 2.The construction of the building was going to take two years, but we were off and running, and it appeared we would finish on schedule.

Question 8

Lit. [of a runner in baseball] not having a foot touching the base. (*Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 8

1.The runner was off base but the first baseman didn’t tag him out.

Question 9

Fig. unrealistic; inexact; wrong. *Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 9

1.I’m afraid you’re off base when you state that this problem will take care of itself. 2.You’re way off base if you think I was to blame!

Question 10

not located or present on the grounds of a college or university. (*Typically: be ~ ; live ~ ; move ~ .)

Answer 10

1.Tom has an apartment off campus. 2.The dean is off campus and cannot be reached.

Question 11

not exactly in the center or middle.

Answer 11

1.The arrow hit the target a little off center. 2.The picture hanging over the chair is a little off center.

Question 12

slight possibility.

Answer 12

1.I need your phone number on the off chance I need more help. 2.There’s an off chance that we might be hiring next month.

Question 13

Lit. not going in the right direction. (*Typically: be ~ ; drift ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 13

1.The ship is off course and may strike the reef!

Question 14

Fig. not following the plan correctly. (*Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 14

1.The project is off course and won’t be finished on time. 2.I am off course and doing poorly.

Question 15

not working at one’s job. (The opposite of on duty.)

Answer 15

1.I’m sorry, I can’t talk to you until I’m off duty. 2.The police officer couldn’t help me because he was off duty.

Question 16

away [from a place] very quickly.

Answer 16

1.He finished his dinner and was off like a shot. 2.The thief grabbed the lady’s purse and was off like a shot.

Question 17

Fig. on a digression; discussing a topic that is not the main topic. (Alludes to a train waiting on a siding. *Typically: be ~ ; get ~ ; get someone ~ .)

Answer 17

1.Anne got off on a sidetrack and never returned to her topic. 2.The ineffective committee got off on one sidetrack after another.

Question 18

in a rage about someone or something; on a tirade about someone or something.

Answer 18

1.Are you off on Sally again? Why can’t you leave her alone?

Question 19

incorrect in one’s planning or prediction. (*Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 19

I was off on my estimates a little bit. I guess I was off too much.

Question 20

to have started on something, such as a task or a journey. (*Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 20

What time should we be off on our trip? We should be off by dawn. I’m off on my diet again.

Question 21

Sl. to get high on some kind of drug.

Answer 21

Max likes to get off on marijuana.

Question 22

Fig. starting out correctly; beginning something carefully and cautiously. (*Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 22

This time, I want to get off on the right foot with him. I tried to get off to a good start with my new job.

Question 23

Fig. starting something (such as a friendship) with negative factors. (*Typically: be ~ ; get ~ .)

Answer 23

Bill and Tom got off on the wrong foot. They had a minor car accident just before they were introduced. Let’s work hard to be friends. I hate to get off on the wrong foot.

Question 24

Fig. not able to play a sport as well as normal. (*Typically: be ~ ; put one ~ ; throw one ~ .)

Answer 24

I’m a little tired, and that generally puts me off my game.

Question 25

Fig. crazy; silly. (*Typically: be ~ ; go ~ .)

Answer 25

 Sometimes, Bob, I think you’re off your rocker.  Good grief, John. You’re off your nut.

Question 26

not in the busy time of the year.  We don’t have much to do off season.

Answer 26

 Things are very quiet around here off season.

Question 27

someone or something is leaving. (Said on the departure of someone or something.)

Answer 27

 It’s time to leave. Off I go.  Sally looked at the airplane taking off and said, “Off it goes.”

Question 28

not broadcasting (a radio or television program).

Answer 28

 The radio audience won’t hear what you say when you’re off the air.  When the performers were off the air, the director told them how well they had done.

Question 29

Fig. away from the frequently traveled routes. (*Typically: be ~ ; go ~ ; travel ~ .)

Answer 29

 We found a nice little Italian restaurant off the beaten track.

Question 30

Fig. freed from an obligation. (Alludes to a fish freeing itself from a fishhook. *Typically: be ~ ; get ~ ; get someone ~ ; let someone ~ .)

Answer 30

 Thanks for getting me off the hook. I didn’t want to attend that meeting.  I couldn’t get myself off the hook no matter what I tried.