bear off

In backgammon, to take your own pieces off the board during the final stage of the game.

• You can now bear off your checkers.
• He bore off three pieces on his next turn.
• The first player to bear off every checker wins.

How to use it: bear something off (She bore her last checker off after rolling a six.)

Similar words: remove

Common phrases: bear off checkers, bear off pieces, bear off something

To win a prize or take it away after winning.

• The young poet bore off the prize.
• Our team hopes to bear off the trophy.
• She bore off the highest award at the festival.

Similar words: win, carry off

Opposites: lose

Common phrases: bear off prizes, bear off something, bear off trophies

To hold someone or something back so they cannot come closer.

• The guards bore off the crowd.
• He raised a shield to bear off the attacker.
• They used long poles to bear off the approaching animals.

How to use it: bear someone/something off (The guards used their shields to bear the attackers off.)

Similar words: hold back, keep away, restrain

Common phrases: bear off someone, bear off attackers, bear off crowds

To push or move something away so it does not hit or rub against something else.

• They used a pole to bear off the boat.
• The sailor bore the hull off from the quay.
• He lifted his stick to bear off the blow.

How to use it: bear something off from something (Use the pole to bear the boat off from the wall.)

Similar words: push away, fend off, deflect

Common phrases: bear off boats, bear off something, bear off blows

To take a game piece out of play.

• You may bear off that piece now.
• She bore off a counter on her next turn.
• Which pieces can we bear off under these rules?

How to use it: bear something off (The rules allow you to bear a piece off at this point.)

Similar words: remove from play

Common phrases: bear off pieces, bear off something, bear off counters