Take off

is a common phrase in English.

It's most commonly used as a 'phrasal verb':  VERB + PREPOSITION

1. to remove something, especially a piece of clothing:

I’d better take my shoes off.

2. if an aircraft takes off, it leaves the ground and starts flying:

The plane should take off on time.

3. to become successful or popular very fast:

Her business has really taken off.

4. to rest or not go to work:

I’m taking Monday off work to relax and go shopping.

5. to leave a place (sometimes suddenly)

As soon as she saw her ex boyfriend arrive, she just took off.

 

These meanings have OBJECTS, so we usually put it between 'take' and 'off'

This is called 'transitive' in English teaching.

take my shoes off.       (shoes is the object.)

taking Monday off.   (Monday is the object.)

 

These meanings DON'T have OBJECTS, so 'take' and 'off' stay together.

This is called 'INtransitive' in English teaching.

she just took off. 

take off = 'leave' or 'depart'.   You can't depart something, right?  

has really taken off.

take off on time.

These have almost the same meaning. Airplanes or careers don't take something off, right?  They just take off.

So you might ask: how is this Construction English?

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I'm glad you asked!

Take off 

is a noun used in construction. (also spelled take-off  or takeoff)

Take off 

is also a verb used in construction.

Take off, sometimes spelled as "take-off" or "takeoff," is a part of cost estimating in the construction industry. Estimators use construction drawings and count or measure the quantities of materials, systems, parts, etc. to calculate the cost estimate.

The quantities (amounts) they measure are:

1. Count – How many?   For example, how many air conditioners are in the plans?  How many doors?
2. Length – How long? For example: the length of pipes, duct work, concrete curbs, fences, etc.
3. Area –  How many square meters or square feet?  Painting contractors, roofing contractors, landscaping contractors, etc.. may use area to determine the quantity  to include in the bid or estimate.
4. Volume – How many cubic meters or cubic yards?   Excavation, concrete supply, asphalt or paving, etc. 

Takeoff is done in different ways: Some do computer take offs using estimating software programs. Some use electronic measuring devices on paper (hard copy) plans.  These days, BIM (building information modeling) software like REVIT also perform takeoffs.

How can you use the term 'take off' in your work?

It is MOST OFTEN used as a NOUN PHRASE.   Contractors DO  TAKEOFFS.  (take-offs, take offs)

Other verbs that work well with take off include:

PERFORM a TAKE OFF

COMPLETE a TAKE OFF

 

EXAMPLES:

1. The plumbing contractor needs to do a take off of the plumbing fixtures. 

They have to count the NUMBER of toilets in the plans so they can prepare their cost estimate.

2. The fence contractor needs to do their take off. 

They have to measure the  LENGTH of the fence on the plans so they can prepare their cost estimate.

3. The roofing contractor needs to do their take off. 

They have to measure the roof AREA in the documents so they can prepare their cost estimate.

4. The concrete contractor needs to do a take off of the walls and foundations. 

They have to measure the VOLUME of concrete in the documents so they can prepare their cost estimate.

 

It LESS FREQUENTLY used as a VERB + PREPOSITION.

The concrete contractor needs to take off the concrete from the foundation plan.  

etc...

Now please excuse me- I must take off...

...and do some takeoffs.  🙂