shove off

Leave by boat

Shove off means to leave or depart, originally nautical—pushing a boat away from shore or dock to begin a voyage.

The phrase now works as a casual way to say you're leaving: We should shove off before it gets dark.

As an imperative directed at someone else, it's a rude dismissal: Why don't you shove off and leave me alone?

dismiss

go away

Command to leave

get lostDismissive order to leave
beat itCommand to leave quickly
scramDepart hastily, informally

leave me alone · take a hike · get out · dismissal · rebuff · rejection · unwelcome · intrusion · brushoff · cold shoulder

depart

set sail

Begin a sea journey

embarkBoard for travel
sail awayLeave by boat
launchSet into motion

weigh anchor · unmoor · put to sea · head out · get underway · departure · bon voyage · farewell · disembark · shore leave

Categories

departuresleave, depart, exit, leaving, go
dismissalsgo away, get out, leave, scram, beat it
escapeescape, flee, run away, get away, flight
fighting wordsfight me, bring it, square up, throw hands, step outside
ways to dropdrop, fall, release, let go, plunge

Opposites

departure vs. arrival

shove offarrive

Reach a destination

pull in · come in · land · dock · show up

dismissal vs. welcome

shove offcome in

Permitted to enter

welcome · come on in · stay · stick around · make yourself at home

beginning journey vs. ending journey

shove offmoor

Uncultivated peaty upland

dock · drop anchor · tie up · berth · make fast

Family

off, shove, shoving, shoved, shoves, shover

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G