1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To take someone quickly to a specified place, often without warning.
"An ambulance whisked him off to the nearest hospital after he collapsed."
separable
whisk off
B2 neutral separable transitive
To take someone or something away quickly and suddenly to another place.
In plain English
To quickly take someone somewhere else, usually before they expect it.
What does "whisk off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To remove something from a surface or area with a quick sweeping motion.
"She whisked the dust off the shelf with a cloth before the guests arrived."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move something off a surface in a single fast, sweeping motion.
Actually means
To quickly take someone somewhere else, usually before they expect it.
Usage tip
Very similar to 'whisk away'; interchangeable in most contexts. 'Whisk off to' a destination is a common pattern. Found in both formal journalism and informal conversation.
Words that pair with "whisk off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hospital stage helicopter destination backstage airport
How to conjugate "whisk off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
whisk off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
whisks off
he/she/it
Past simple
whisked off
yesterday
Past participle
whisked off
have + pp
-ing form
whisking off
continuous
Hear "whisk off" in the wild
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