ready for the off

English

Etymology

From the notion that horses, greyhounds and racegoers that are ready for the off (beginning) of a race are ready for the action that subsequently follows.

Adjective

ready for the off (not comparable)

1. (UK, Ireland) Ready for action; set to go; good to go.
   • 2010 July 27, Caitriona Murphy, “Tullamore ready for the off”, in independent.ie‎^[1], archived from the original on 24 April 2023:

     Tullamore ready for the off(title)

   • 2012 March 12, Martin Wainwright, “Bradford West byelection almost ready for the off”, in TheGuardian‎^[2], archived from the original on 12 October 2015:

     Bradford West byelection almost ready for the off(title)

   • 2013 June 25, Basil Jay, Sliding Down the Bannisters of Life‎^[3], page 67:

     "My thoughts exactly I said, so I am going to get ready for the off", now getting ready for the off meant taking off your pads and your whites (trousers) removing your jockstrap and box, pitting your trousers back on, packing your bag, and you were ready to go.

   • 2017, Richard Pike, Phantom Boys Volume 2‎^[4]:

     Both aircraft began to lean forward against the brakes, like greyhounds ready for the 'off'.