peel off

verb

peeled off; peeling off; peels off

intransitive verb

1

: to veer away from an airplane formation especially for diving or landing

2

: depart, leave

Synonyms

• bail
• bail out
• begone
• book [slang]
• bug off
• bug out
• bugger off [British slang]
• buzz (off)
• clear off [chiefly British]
• clear out
• cut out
• depart
• dig out
• exit
• get
• get off
• go
• go off
• move
• pack (up or off)
• part
• pike (out or off)
• pull out
• push off
• push on
• quit
• run along
• sally (forth)
• scarper [British]
• shove (off)
• step (along)
• take off
• vamoose
• walk out

Examples of peel off in a Sentence

it's rude to peel off like that without thanking your host

peeled off the wet clothes and tossed them over the shower rod

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, peel off when the catty chit-chat gets rolling by claiming a need for a bathroom break—and then find a different (and safer) conversation elsewhere to join. —Dr. David Lenihan, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Tip For an even more tender texture, peel off the tough membrane of the celery ribs before using. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024

Water damage and mold marked the ornate, gilded plasterwork, and paint—in a fusty Empire red—was peeling off the walls. —Alice Cavanagh, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024

Acevedo peeled off some of the skin and took a big bite. —Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1