pack off
B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
Send someone away to a place, often because you want them gone or because it is convenient for you.
Literal meaning: To pack someone up and send them off — the dismissive connotation is idiomatic.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To send someone away to a place, often hurriedly or without much choice being given to that person.
"Every summer, his parents packed him off to his grandparents' farm in the countryside."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To dismiss or get rid of someone by sending them somewhere else.
"The manager packed off the junior staff early so he could meet with the board in private."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Carries a slightly dismissive or impatient tone. Often used by parents sending children somewhere (e.g. to boarding school, to relatives). More common in British English.
Commonly used with
children kids students boarding school relatives summer camp
Forms
Base
pack off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
packs off
he/she/it
Past simple
packed off
yesterday
Past participle
packed off
have + pp
-ing form
packing off
continuous
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Synonyms
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