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shuck off

C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To take off or get rid of something, like a coat or a problem, quickly and easily.

Literal meaning: To remove a shell/husk off — transparent in the literal sense.

Meanings

1 C1 informal

To remove a piece of clothing quickly and casually.

"He shucked off his wet raincoat and hung it by the door."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic informal

To get rid of a responsibility, habit, or aspect of oneself.

"After moving abroad, she shucked off her old identity and started fresh."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Can be literal (removing clothes or shells) or figurative (getting rid of responsibilities, inhibitions, or constraints). Primarily American English. The core verb 'shuck' comes from the agricultural practice of removing husks. Informal and vivid.

Commonly used with

coat jacket clothes responsibility inhibitions past

Forms

Base
shuck off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shucks off
he/she/it
Past simple
shucked off
yesterday
Past participle
shucked off
have + pp
-ing form
shucking off
continuous

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