send off

To make a letter, package, document, or person leave for another place.

• I sent off the letter yesterday.
• Have you sent your application off yet?
• We sent the children off to camp this morning.

How to use it: send something off to someone (I sent the documents off to my lawyer.); send someone off to somewhere (They sent the children off to school.)

Similar words: send, dispatch, mail

Common phrases: send off something, send off applications, send someone off

To make a player leave a game for breaking the rules, usually by showing a red card.

• The referee sent him off.
• Two players were sent off before half-time.
• Should the referee send her off for that foul?

How to use it: send someone off for something (The referee sent him off for a dangerous tackle.)

Similar words: dismiss, eject

Common phrases: send someone off, send off players

To celebrate someone’s departure and wish them well as they leave.

• We sent him off with cheers.
• Her colleagues sent her off with a lovely lunch.
• Let’s send them off in style before their trip.

How to use it: send someone off with something (We sent her off with a party.)

Similar words: give a farewell, see off

Common phrases: send someone off, send off someone

To produce something such as heat, light, smoke, or a smell that spreads outward.

• The stove sends off heat.
• The flowers sent off a sweet scent.
• The burning logs were sending off thick smoke.

How to use it: send off something (The fire sent off sparks into the darkness.)

Similar words: give off, emit

Common phrases: send off heat, send off smoke, send off sparks

To mock a cricket batter with words or gestures after getting them out.

• The bowler sent him off with a wave.
• He was fined for sending off the dismissed batter.
• Players should not send opponents off with insulting gestures.

How to use it: send someone off with a gesture (The bowler sent the batter off with a rude gesture.)

Similar words: taunt, mock

Common phrases: send someone off, send off batsmen

A party or friendly celebration for someone who is leaving.

• We gave her a lovely send-off.
• His colleagues planned a send-off before his retirement.
• Are you coming to Sam’s send-off on Friday?

How to use it: a send-off for someone (We organized a send-off for our manager.)

Similar words: farewell party, leaving party

Common phrases: a big send off, a farewell send off, a retirement send off

A ceremony held to remember and say goodbye to someone who has died.

• He had a beautiful send-off.
• The whole village attended her final send-off.
• They wanted a simple send-off with music and flowers.

How to use it: a send-off for someone (They arranged a quiet send-off for their grandfather.)

Similar words: funeral, memorial service

Common phrases: a fitting send off, a final send off