drift off
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drift off
1. To move slowly away from someone or something, especially while propelled by wind or water. I held the feather in my palm until it drifted off into the air. My friends inevitably drifted off as we all floated down the lazy river. Thank goodness that clump of seaweed drifted off, because Susan would have screamed bloody murder if it had touched her leg.
2. To gradually fall sleep. I really do want to watch this movie with you, but I'm so tired that I keep drifting off. The kids are already drifting off, so I think it's time we take them up to their rooms. I did drift off on the train, but I woke up in time for my stop, thank goodness.
3. To lose interest and stop paying attention to someone or something. I think you need to add some humor to this speech so that your audience doesn't drift off while you're talking. I don't know what Joe's problem is today because I drift off whenever he starts ranting against the government. I think I must have drifted off during that lecture, because when it was over I realized I didn't remember anything the professor said.
4. To slowly leave one place or thing to go to another. We all had a hard time saying good-bye to each other, but eventually we all drifted off to our cars. Because it was a rainy Monday morning, the students seemed to just drift off after homeroom. Are we the only two left? Huh, I guess everyone else has drifted off by now.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
drift off
to move slowly away. The boat slowly drifted off and was gone. The clouds drifted off and the sun came out.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
drift off
v.
1. To move away slowly, especially while being carried by currents of air or water: The stick drifted off with the river current. The child let go of the balloon and it drifted off toward the horizon.
2. To walk slowly toward some other place or area: As they left the cafeteria, the students started drifting off toward the gym.
3. To fall asleep gradually: I drifted off while watching television. I was so tired that I drifted off.
4. To stop listening or paying attention to someone or something: The professor noted that most of the students had drifted off during the lecture.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
