tee off Idiom, Proverb

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tee off

1. To begin a game of golf by hitting the ball on the first hole. We tee off at 9 AM, so you should arrive at the golf course around 8:30. It was already nearing 90 degrees when we teed off, so we weren't sure if we would make it through all 18 holes.2. By extension, to begin or mark the beginning of something; to kick something off. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "tee" and "off." They teed off the party with a game of musical chairs. Let's tee things off with some brainstorming exercises.3. To make someone particularly annoyed, angry, or frustrated. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "tee" and "off." It really tees me off the way people drive in the bus lane, when they clearly aren't supposed to! Nothing teed my mom off more than having guests come into the house with dirty shoes.See also: off, tee

tee someone off

Sl. to make someone angry. (See also teed off.) That really teed me off! Well, you sure managed to tee off everybody!See also: off, tee

tee off

 
1. Lit. to start the first hole in a game of golf. It's time to tee off. Let's get on the course. What time do we tee off?
2. Fig. to begin [doing anything]; to be the first one to start something. The master of ceremonies teed off with a few jokes and then introduced the first act. Everyone is seated and ready to begin. Why don't you tee off?See also: off, tee

teed off

Inf. angry. I'm not teed off! I'm enraged. I was so teed off I could have spit!See also: off, tee

tee off

1. Start or begin, as in We teed off the fundraising drive with a banquet. This usage is a metaphor taken from golf, where tee off means "start play by driving a golf ball from the tee." [Second half of 1900s]
2. Make angry or irritated, as in That rude comment teed him off, or I was teed off because it rained all weekend. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see tick off. See also: off, tee

tee off

v.
1. To drive a golf ball from the tee: The golfer teed off with a 300-yard drive.
2. To hit something or someone solidly with a sweeping blow or stroke: The batter teed off on the pitch and the ball flew over the outfield wall. The boxer was staggering, and his opponent teed off with a hard right-hand punch.
3. To start or begin something: They teed off the fundraising campaign with a dinner. We teed the evening off with cocktails at the hotel.
4. To start; begin: The conference will tee off Saturday morning.
5. Slang To make someone angry or disgusted: These phone solicitations really tee me off. The rude remarks teed off the speaker.
6. tee off on Slang To attack someone verbally: Critics teed off on the mayor for failing to balance the budget. See also: off, tee

tee someone off

tv. to make someone angry. (see also teed off.) Well, you sure managed to tee off everybody! See also: off, someone, tee

teed off

mod. angry. I was so teed off I could have spit! See also: off, tee

See also:

• tee someone off
• teed off
• Tees
• long game
• hole out
• hole in one
• teed up
• tee up
• stop short of (something)
• stop short of doing

tee off

tee off
1) Start or begin, as in We teed off the fundraising drive with a banquet. This usage is a metaphor taken from golf, where tee off means “start play by driving a golf ball from the tee.” [Second half of 1900s]
2) Make angry or irritated, as in That rude comment teed him off, or I was teed off because it rained all weekend. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see tick off.

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tee off|tee

v. 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or tee to begin play for each hole. We got to the golf course just in time to see the champion tee off. 2. slang To hit a ball, especially a baseball very hard or far. He teed off on the first pitch. 3. slang To attack vigorously. The governor teed off on his opponent's speech. 4. slang To make (someone) angry or disgusted. It teed me off when Billy stole my candy. Joe was teed off because he had to wait so long.