1 B2 idiomatic informal
To leave quickly, often to avoid a situation or person.
"He nicked off before the teacher could ask who started the fight."
nick off
B2 informal intransitive
Australian informal expression meaning to go away or leave quickly.
In plain English
To go away or leave, often quickly or to avoid something.
What does "nick off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
Used as a rude command to tell someone to go away.
"'Nick off!' she shouted at the kids kicking a ball near her garden."
Usage tip
Primarily Australian English. Used as both an imperative ('nick off!') and a statement ('he nicked off before I could talk to him'). The imperative is a rude dismissal. Equivalent to British 'clear off' or 'push off'.
How to conjugate "nick off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
nick off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
nicks off
he/she/it
Past simple
nicked off
yesterday
Past participle
nicked off
have + pp
-ing form
nicking off
continuous
Hear "nick off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "nick off"
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