offing

offing
offing (n.) in phrase in the offing, 1779, from nautical term offing "the more distant part of the sea as seen from the shore" (1620s), from OFF (Cf. off) (q.v.) + noun suffix -ING (Cf. -ing) (1). Originally the phrase meant "in the distant future," modern sense of "impending" developed 1914.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Offing — Off ing ([o^]f [i^]ng; 115), n. [From {Off}.] That part of the sea at a good distance from the shore, or where there is deep water and no need of a pilot; also, distance from the shore; as, the ship had ten miles offing; we saw a ship in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • offing — ► NOUN ▪ the more distant part of the sea in view. ● in the offing Cf. ↑in the offing …   English terms dictionary

  • offing — [ôf′iŋ] n. [< OFF1] 1. the distant part of the sea visible from the shore 2. a position at a distance from the shore in the offing 1. at some distance but in sight 2. at some indefinite time in the future …   English World dictionary

  • offing — off|ing [ˈɔfıŋ US ˈo: , ˈa: ] n [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: offing part of the deep sea that you can see from the shore (17 20 centuries), from off] be in the offing to be likely to happen soon ▪ Big changes were in the offing …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • offing — /aw fing, of ing/, n. 1. the more distant part of the sea seen from the shore, beyond the anchoring ground. 2. a position at a distance from shore. 3. in the offing, a. at a distance but within sight. b. in the projected future; likely to happen …   Universalium

  • offing — noun /ˈɒfɪŋ,ˈɑfɪŋ,ˈɔfɪŋ/ a) The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground. I came to an Anchor in seven fathomes water in the offing to Sea. b)… …   Wiktionary

  • offing — n. in the offing ( forthcoming ) * * * [ ɒfɪŋ] in the offing ( forthcoming ) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • offing — off|ing [ ɔfıŋ ] noun in the offing likely to happen very soon: We have several projects in the offing …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • offing — [[t]ɒ̱fɪŋ, AM ɔ͟ːf [/t]] PHRASE: v link PHR If you say that something is in the offing, you mean that it is likely to happen soon. A general amnesty for political prisoners may be in the offing. Syn: imminent …   English dictionary

  • offing — noun be in the offing to be about to happen or to be possible: Everything s topsy turvy at the moment with this big trip in the offing …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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