hive off

IPA/hˈaɪv ˈɒf/
IPA/hˈaɪv ˈɔf/

hive off — phrasal verb

  • hive offbase form
  • hives off3rd person singular
  • hiving off-ing form
  • hived offpast simple

1. to take a department, brand, asset, or other part of a company out of the main b

1.片語動詞及物C1
釋義

to take a department, brand, asset, or other part of a company out of the main business so it can be run separately or sold.

例句

The bank hived off its insurance arm before the merger talks began.

hive off + business unit before a sale or merger

Sofia's firm plans to hive off the delivery unit and sell it next year.

同義詞
  • spin off

    close in meaning and common in business and media English

  • carve out

    often stresses a strategic reshaping of the company

  • sell off

    stronger when the main point is the sale rather than the separation

反義詞

文法句型

hive off + division/brand/unit

hive off + asset to + buyer

hive off + business into + separate company

用法筆記

Object is usually a department, brand, asset, or other business unit. Common in British business writing, often with into or to when the separated part becomes its own company or goes to another owner.

常見錯誤

❌The company hived off from its travel unit.
✅The company hived off its travel unit.
💡use the business unit as the object when the company is doing the separating.

2. to move some people or things out of a larger group, or for them to move away fr

2.片語動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to move some people or things out of a larger group, or for them to move away from it, so they form a smaller group of their own.

例句

The teacher hived off six beginners into a quieter room for extra practice.

hive off + people into + smaller group

After lunch, three volunteers hived off from the main tour to clean the beach.

intransitive: hive off from + larger group

同義詞
  • separate out

    neutral and useful for sorting people or things into smaller sets

  • split off

    similar but slightly more direct about dividing the group

  • break away

    often suggests a more active move by the smaller group itself

反義詞

文法句型

hive off + somebody/something

hive off from + the main group

be hived off into + smaller group

用法筆記

Often used when a larger group is being split for practical reasons. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense can apply to people or ordinary objects, not only company units or assets.

常見錯誤

❌Three pupils hived from the class for extra help.
✅Three pupils were hived off from the class for extra help.
💡this phrasal verb needs 'off' to mark the separation.