The English We Speak: Shoot off

Learning English Conversations

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2026

⏱️ 2 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This expression means leave quickly because you're in a hurry or there's somewhere you need to be. Learn how to use it here.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts.
0:05.7	Hello, I'm Georgie, an English teacher and presenter at BBC Learning English.
0:10.7	I want to tell you about a new series I've made all about speaking.
0:15.5	Beating speaking anxiety helps you fight your fears of speaking English.
0:19.6	Each video tackles a different fear, like the fear of
0:22.6	making mistakes, the fear of not understanding people, and the fear of public speaking. Find practical
0:28.7	tips and see speaking activities in action with real learners. Find beating speaking anxiety on our website,
0:35.7	BBC learningeng English.com.
0:38.7	Hello and welcome to the English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English
0:44.6	speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Faye Faye and I'm here with Beth.
0:49.4	Hi Faye Faye. Let's do this quickly. I need to shoot off right after the recording. We can't rush. This script
0:56.6	is important. Shoot off. This means to leave quickly because you're in a hurry or there's
1:02.4	somewhere you need to be. Sorry, you're right. But I will need to shoot off because I have a dentist
1:08.2	appointment and I can't be late again. Late again. Oh dear.
1:13.4	Shoot off is quite common in everyday English for this type of situation.
1:17.8	Yes, if you need to leave early, you might warn people, sorry, but I have to shoot off after this.
1:24.3	Yes, for example, I told everyone today I will have to shoot off straight after the
1:29.6	meeting tomorrow to catch my train. Yes, you did say that earlier. Let's listen to more
1:35.0	examples of shoot off. I always have to shoot off quickly from work because I don't want to miss my train home.
1:45.6	Sorry, I've just got to shoot off. My mum's calling me.
1:48.6	Sorry, team. Got a shoot off. I need to pick the kids up.
1:55.2	So shoot off means to leave a place quickly because you need to be somewhere else.
	...

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