Take off vs You be gone

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Take off

Top 1,000 (very common)

You be gone

InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Take offMost common: Take off
 Take offYou be gone
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //teɪk ɔːf//🇺🇸 //teɪk ɔf//🇬🇧 //juː bi ɡɒn//🇺🇸 //ju bi ɡɔn//
MeaningTo remove something or to leave the ground.A way to say someone should leave or go away.
ExamplePlease take off your shoes before entering the house.When the party got too loud, she shouted, 'You be gone!'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationstake off clothes, take off shoes, take off time, take off flight, take off quicklyyou be gone for good, you be gone now, I wish you be gone
Common mistakesConfused with 'take out', which means to remove something from a place., Not distinguishing between literal (plane taking off) and figurative (hurry away) meanings., Using 'take off' without an object when it requires one.Incorrectly use 'you' as 'yous' when addressing more than one person., Say 'you be go' instead of 'you be gone'., Forget that it's informal and use it in formal discussions.
Usage notesUse 'take off' in both casual and formal situations. For clothes, it’s more informal. For airplanes, it's neutral.Used informally to tell someone to leave; often in a playful or emphatic tone. Not suitable for formal contexts.

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Take off
You be gone

Frequently asked questions: Take off vs You be gone

What's the difference between Take off and You be gone?

Take off: To remove something or to leave the ground. You be gone: A way to say someone should leave or go away.

Which is more formal: Take off and You be gone?

Take off is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Take off and You be gone?

Take off is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Take off: Please take off your shoes before entering the house. You be gone: When the party got too loud, she shouted, 'You be gone!'

Can I use Take off and You be gone interchangeably?

Not always. Take off and You be gone are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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