tee off

USAGE SUMMARY

'tee off' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an idiomatic phrase meaning "to begin". For example, you can say: "We will tee off at 9am on Saturday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Where should I tee off first?

Independent

The opening fourballs tee off at 7.45am.

The Guardian - Sport

Jeanette: I've got to tee off at eight tomorrow morning.

The New Yorker

He will be the oldest player to tee off Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

Woods will tee off at 10 35 a.m.

The Washington Post

They tee off at 1 42 p.m. Friday.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Champion male golfers may tee off from black tees, while the average male golfer may tee off from white tees, women will tee off from red tees and junior golfers from green tees.

WikiHow

They tee-off at 7.20pm BST.

Independent

One golf course in central Vietnam cancelled 500 rounds, worth $50,000, well before tee-off.

The Economist

The first group tee-off at 12.45pm BST on Thursday, with the final groups at 8pm.

Independent

Tiger Woods, now ranked at 262, will tee-off at 1.15pm BST.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about golf, "tee off" is the most appropriate and idiomatic choice for describing the start of play on a hole.

Common error

Avoid substituting "tee off" with similar-sounding but unrelated phrases like "tea off". Always double-check your spelling to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tee off" is as a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "tee" with the particle "off" to create a new meaning, primarily related to beginning a golf game or, figuratively, any kind of undertaking. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tee off" is a phrasal verb primarily associated with starting a round of golf, but also used more broadly to mean beginning any activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. It maintains a neutral register, commonly appearing in news and media. Its frequent use warrants careful attention to spelling and context to avoid misinterpretations. When literal use is intended, make sure to specify if the intent is related to golf to avoid any confusion. As shown by Ludwig, it's a common and useful expression in both literal and figurative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kick off

An idiomatic alternative suggesting the start of something, similar to "tee off" but originating from sports.

start

A common and simple way to indicate the initiation of an action, less specific than "tee off".

get underway

Suggests the start of something planned or organized, more formal and lacking the golfing connection.

begin

A general term for starting an activity, lacking the specific golf connotation of "tee off".

get going

An informal way to say start, without the golf nuance.

commence

A more formal synonym for 'begin', without the golfing context.

launch

Implies a more significant or planned start, without the specific connotation.

set in motion

Indicates the beginning of a process or series of events, lacking the sports origin.

initiate

A formal term for starting something, typically used in more serious contexts.

open

Implies beginning in the sense of making something available or accessible.

FAQs

How to use "tee off" in a sentence?

You can use "tee off" to describe starting a round of golf, as in "They will "begin" to "tee off" at 8 a.m." It can also mean to annoy or irritate someone, although that usage is less common.

What does "tee off" mean in golf?

In golf, "tee off" refers to the act of making the first shot of a hole from the teeing ground. It's the official start of play for that hole.

What can I say instead of "tee off" when starting a project?

While "tee off" can figuratively mean to start something, consider alternatives like "kick off", ""begin"", or "start" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "tee off" when referring to something other than golf?

Yes, "tee off" can be used informally to mean "to start" something, but it's more commonly and literally associated with starting a round of golf. The use is correct as long as the audience understands the intention.