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tee off

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tee off

 

1. Lit. to start the first hole in a game of golf. It's time to tee off. Let's get on the course. What time do we tee off?

2. Fig. to begin [doing anything]; to be the first one to start something. The master of ceremonies teed off with a few jokes and then introduced the first act. Everyone is seated and ready to begin. Why don't you tee off?

See also: off, tee

tee someone off

Sl. to make someone angry. (See also teed off.) That really teed me off! Well, you sure managed to tee off everybody!

See also: off, tee

tee off

1. Start or begin, as in We teed off the fundraising drive with a banquet. This usage is a metaphor taken from golf, where tee off means "start play by driving a golf ball from the tee." [Second half of 1900s]

2. Make angry or irritated, as in That rude comment teed him off, or I was teed off because it rained all weekend. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see tick off.

See also: off, tee

tee off

v.

1. To drive a golf ball from the tee: The golfer teed off with a 300-yard drive.

2. To hit something or someone solidly with a sweeping blow or stroke: The batter teed off on the pitch and the ball flew over the outfield wall. The boxer was staggering, and his opponent teed off with a hard right-hand punch.

3. To start or begin something: They teed off the fundraising campaign with a dinner. We teed the evening off with cocktails at the hotel.

4. To start; begin: The conference will tee off Saturday morning.

5. Slang To make someone angry or disgusted: These phone solicitations really tee me off. The rude remarks teed off the speaker.

6. tee off on Slang To attack someone verbally: Critics teed off on the mayor for failing to balance the budget.

See also: off, tee