made off

USAGE SUMMARY

"made off" is not correct and usable in written English.
It's not a grammatically correct phrase. If you mean "made away with," which means to take or steal something, then you can use it in written English. For example, "The thief made off with the diamond necklace."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Made off," she said.

The New York Times

They made off with 52 coats.

The New York Times

He made off with about fifteen pigeons.

The New Yorker

Duncan made off with £375.

The Guardian - Business

He then made off with Jonathan's stick.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Williams made off with $6,500.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

And most big discoveries are being made off-shore.

The Economist

Measurements were made off-line, using AccessPoint™ 2000 software (Freeland Systems, Westfield, IN, USA).

Critical Care

(The items are made off-site and delivered by a licensed provider).

Bplans

This indicates that contributing more individual classifiers will make the made-off MCS more efficient.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It's pronounced "made-off".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "made off" is frequently used, be aware that Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Consider more standard alternatives like "escaped with" or "fled with" for clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "made off" in formal writing. Opt for a more grammatically accepted alternative to ensure your writing is clear and professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "made off" functions primarily as a verb indicating the act of fleeing or escaping, typically after committing a crime or theft. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI considers it grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

8%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrasal verb "made off" is frequently employed to describe a swift escape, typically after a crime, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable. Its prevalence in news media accounts for its perceived acceptability. However, for formal or academic writing, opting for alternatives such as "escaped with" or "fled with" may lend greater clarity and grammatical precision. Despite its common usage, being mindful of alternative phrasings will ensure that your writing is both clear and grammatically sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

escaped with

Focuses on the act of fleeing while carrying something.

fled with

Similar to 'escaped with', emphasizing the act of running away.

absconded with

Implies a secretive and often unlawful departure with something.

ran away with

Emphasizes the act of running, often implying a hasty departure.

took off with

Suggests a quick and sudden departure, emphasizing speed.

disappeared with

Highlights the mysterious vanishing of someone along with something.

cleared off with

British English, suggesting a quick and often unauthorized departure.

got away with

Focuses on successfully avoiding consequences after taking something.

snatched

Describes the act of taking something quickly and often forcefully.

stole

A general term for taking something without permission or legally.

FAQs

What does "made off" mean?

"Made off" is a phrasal verb that means to run away, typically after committing a crime or stealing something. It implies a quick escape.

Is "made off" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, especially in news and media, Ludwig AI identifies "made off" as grammatically "incorrect". Consider using alternatives in formal writing.

What can I say instead of "made off"?

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

Is there a difference in formality between "made off" and "escaped with"?

"Made off" leans towards informal usage, while "escaped with" is more neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts.