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hive off

C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words

To take one part of a big company and make it into its own separate company.

Literal meaning: Bees leaving (hiving off) from a main hive to form a new colony — the business metaphor is a direct extension of this image.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic formal

To separate a subsidiary, division, or asset from a parent company and make it an independent entity, often by selling it.

"The conglomerate decided to hive off its logistics division to focus on its core retail business."

"The government plans to hive off the profitable parts of the postal service."

— The Guardian, business section (widely attested phrasing, c. 2010s)
Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic neutral

To move or separate a group of people away from the main body, directing them to work or act independently.

"The teacher hived off the advanced students into a separate workshop."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Primarily British English, especially in business journalism and political discourse. Common in discussions of privatization, corporate restructuring, and government policy. Comes from the image of bees leaving a hive to form a new colony.

Commonly used with

division subsidiary unit branch assets department

Forms

Base
hive off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hives off
he/she/it
Past simple
hived off
yesterday
Past participle
hived off
have + pp
-ing form
hiving off
continuous

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