had made off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had made off" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has escaped or fled, often after committing a theft or similar act. Example: "The thief had made off with a valuable painting before the police arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The previous night, he said, people had made off with armoured vehicles, heavy machinery and US-made Humvees.

The Guardian

Someone had made off with them during the night.

The New York Times

Within three days, bandits had made off with five vehicles belonging to relief agencies.

The New Yorker

A colleague asked if someone had made off with his topcoat.

The New Yorker

They infiltrated a gang of parking-meter attendants who had made off with around four million quarters in two years.

The New Yorker

In court filings, Mr. Hoffman said the thieves had made off with $125,000 worth of marijuana.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The American cable company fired its accountants, Deloitte & Touche, after having to restate cashflow and revenues for the past two years, a few weeks after it emerged that Adelphia had made off-balance-sheet loans to its founders, the Rigas family.

The Economist

With just hours left before the Friday deadline, negotiations between the longstanding allies had reportedly soured after a report circulated that Trump had made off-the-record comments stating that any trade deal with Canada would be "totally on our terms".

The Guardian

They might have made off with a carpet.

The Guardian - Sport

But the impact she has made off the field is even more incredible to me.

The New York Times

(I'm never sure which tiny glutton has made off with the most of me).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had made off" to vividly describe someone escaping with something, especially after a crime or misdeed. This phrase adds a sense of urgency and decisiveness to the action.

Common error

Avoid using "had made off" in situations where a simple departure is meant. This phrase implies an escape, often with stolen goods or after committing a wrongdoing. Use other terms like "left" or "departed" for neutral departures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had made off" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. Ludwig AI shows that it describes an action of escaping or fleeing, typically after committing a theft or some other illicit act, emphasizing the completion of the action before another point in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had made off" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, particularly in news and media, to describe someone escaping, often with something stolen or after committing a misdeed. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is correct and commonly used. When writing, use it to add a sense of urgency and decisiveness to the action of escaping, but be aware of its negative connotation. Consider alternatives like "had fled" or "had escaped" for more neutral situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had absconded

Implies a sudden and secretive departure, often with something that doesn't belong to the person.

had fled

A more general term for running away from a place or situation.

had escaped

Suggests breaking free from confinement or a dangerous situation.

had run away

A simple and direct way to describe leaving a place quickly.

had taken flight

More formal, implies a hurried departure to avoid danger or capture.

had bolted

Suggests a sudden and abrupt departure, often out of fear.

had slipped away

Implies a discreet or unnoticed departure.

had disappeared

Indicates that someone has vanished, often mysteriously.

had taken off

Informal, suggests a quick and sudden departure.

had cleared off

Suggests a departure, often to avoid trouble.

FAQs

How to use "had made off" in a sentence?

Use "had made off" to describe someone who has escaped, typically after stealing something or committing a crime. For example, "The thieves "had made off" with the painting before the police arrived".

What can I say instead of "had made off"?

You can use alternatives like "had fled", "had absconded", or "had escaped" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had made off" or "made off"?

"Had made off" is the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Made off" is the simple past tense. Use ""had made off"" when you need to emphasize the completion of the escape before another event.

What's the difference between "had made off" and "escaped"?

"Had made off" often implies that someone has run away with something, usually stolen. "Escaped"/had escaped" is a more general term for getting free from confinement or danger.