Dictionary

shove off en · VERB

Etymology

From shove + off.

Meanings

1. To set a boat in motion by pushing with an oar or boathook.
   • And so my boys and I stood on the bank of the Snake River in the spring of ’98, feeling that ancient urge to shove off.[…]But we had a brand-new canoe and the paddles were in hand and, sure, I have never floated the Snake in a canoe, not any other river for that matter, but what the heck. 2021 [2001], John Eldredge, chapter 1, in Wild at Heart, Expanded edition, Nelson Books, →ISBN, page 4:
2. (imperative, informal, often) To leave or scram.
   • Well– Now, don't think you can get around me like that. He's not coming out, and that's my final word. Now, shove off! 1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian, spoken by Mandy Cohen (Terry Jones):
   • Well, it looks like it's time to go. Let's shove off.

Forms