strike off

To officially stop someone from working as a doctor or lawyer by removing their professional registration.

• The doctor was struck off.
• They struck her off after a serious professional failure.
• Could he be struck off for that conduct?

How to use it: be struck off for something (The lawyer was struck off for stealing clients’ money.)

Similar words: disbar

Common phrases: strike someone off, strike off doctors

To remove a name or entry from an official list.

• Strike off the duplicate names.
• The company was struck off the register.
• Why did they strike her off the membership list?

How to use it: strike someone/something off a list (They struck his name off the list.)

Similar words: remove, delete

Opposites: add

Common phrases: strike off names, strike someone off

To separate a part from something by hitting it with a sharp tool or weapon.

• He struck off a branch.
• One blow of the sword struck off the statue’s head.
• The worker struck off a small piece of stone.

Similar words: cut off, sever

Common phrases: strike off branches, strike something off

To begin moving in a new direction or following a new plan.

• We struck off towards the coast.
• He decided to strike off on his own.
• The group struck off along a narrow mountain path.

How to use it: strike off in a direction (We struck off in a different direction.); strike off on something (She struck off on a new career path.)

Similar words: set off, set out, branch out

Common phrases: strike off alone, strike off north

To print a copy of something quickly.

• Strike off another copy.
• The printer struck off fifty leaflets that morning.
• Could you strike off a proof for the editor?

Similar words: print, run off

Common phrases: strike off copies, strike something off