bears off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bears off" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be a misinterpretation of "bear off," which is used in specific contexts, such as in games like backgammon or in nautical terms. Example: "In backgammon, the player must bear off their pieces to win the game."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Bears' Jauron in Jeopardy As unbelievable as it seems, despite getting the Bears off to their best start since 1990, the new general manager, Jerry Angelo, could still fire Coach Dick Jauron at the end of the season.

The New York Times - Sports

Should they chase the bears off, as did another team he heard of in Canada?

Science Magazine

Chopra and William Porterfield, who made 36 from 20 deliveries, got the Bears off to a flying start from which they never really looked back.

BBC

England international Ian Bell had got the Bears off to a fine start when he opened the batting with captain Varun Chopra (23), before Porterfield ramped up the runs, hitting 81 off 47 balls, including five fours and five sixes.

BBC

Robinson got a one-year contract at the average salary of the top 10 defensive ends in the N.F.L. Robinson, claimed by the Bears off waivers before the 1998 season, had 77 tackles last season.

The New York Times - Sports

The warming of the Arctic is extending the number of ice-free days in Hudson Bay, forcing the bears off the sea ice, and away from their main diet of ring seals, and on to the land.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Oh bore off.

The Guardian

It's just like - bore off.

The Guardian - Sport

He tells me that his boss planted a taxidermy moose and bear off in the distance.

The New York Times - Magazine

He bore off the first of his checkers, and Stolarsky threw up his hands in disgust.

The New Yorker

He films the entire play as a flashback, starting the movie with his own face in closeup: Othello, dead and being borne off for burial.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing backgammon, use "bear off" to describe removing checkers from the board after they've been moved to your home board. For instance, "Once all my checkers are in my home board, I can begin to bear them off."

Common error

Avoid using "bears off" as a general phrase for departure or movement; it is often incorrect. Ensure you use the correct form and only use "bear off" in the specific contexts of nautical navigation or backgammon. For broader contexts, consider more appropriate synonyms such as "starts off" or "departs from".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bears off" is generally not grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI notes, it may be a misinterpretation of the phrasal verb "bear off", which functions as an intransitive verb in specific contexts, such as sailing or backgammon.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bears off" is generally incorrect in standard English, often being a misinterpretation of "bear off". As Ludwig AI clarifies, "bear off" has specific uses, primarily in nautical contexts where it means to steer away from the wind, and in backgammon to describe removing checkers. While examples exist, usage is rare and contexts are limited mainly to News & Media, Science and Wiki. For general purposes of describing departure or movement, consider alternative phrases such as "starts off" or "departs from" to ensure clarity and correctness. It's important to consider the specific context to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

starts off

Focuses on the beginning of an action or journey.

departs from

Emphasizes a movement away from a specific location or idea.

veers away

Highlights a change in direction, suggesting a deviation from a course.

sets out

Implies a purposeful start of a journey or task.

gets going

Stresses the initiation of activity or movement.

launches forth

Suggests a strong, energetic beginning or departure.

swerves aside

Highlights an abrupt directional change to avoid something.

marches on

Implies a determined continuation or progression.

steps away

Focuses on the act of physically moving away from something.

wanders off

Describes a movement away in a casual, undirected manner.

FAQs

What does "bear off" mean in sailing?

In sailing, "bear off" means to steer the boat away from the wind. It's the opposite of heading up or pointing closer to the wind.

How is "bear off" used in backgammon?

In backgammon, "bear off" means to remove checkers from the board once all your checkers are in your home board. This is done according to the roll of the dice.

What's the correct spelling: "bear off" or "bears off"?

The correct spelling and usage is "bear off". "Bears off" is generally incorrect unless you're using "bears" as a noun, and even then the phrase would likely need restructuring for clarity.

When can I use alternative phrases instead of "bear off"?

You can use alternative phrases like "starts off" or "departs from" when you want to express a general beginning or movement and the specific nautical or backgammon context of "bear off" isn't relevant.