Ready for the off

Posted by David FG December 12, 2007In reply to Ready for the off posted by Martin Gough on December 12, 2007

What is the origin of the phrase, "Ready for the off!"?

I believe it comes from horse-racing. Commentators on hat sport traditionally using the phrases:

'They're under starter's orders; and they're off!' at the beginnning of a race. Hence, the 'off' is the start of a race, or by extension, anything else.

DFG