The phrasal verb "drive off" is predominantly used in informal speech but can also appear in more formal contexts, particularly when describing actions succinctly in narrative or descriptive writing. It is typically employed to describe the act of leaving a location by vehicle, emphasizing the action of starting to move away. This phrasal verb is often found in contexts related to travel, narratives involving cars or driving, and sometimes in idiomatic expressions relating to dismissing or repelling unwelcome individuals or situations (e.g., "drive off pests"). It carries a sense of decisiveness and tends to be paired with scenarios where quick departure is a focal point. In terms of grammar, it is transitive when used to repel something ("drive off the bugs") and intransitive when simply describing departure ("they drove off").
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To force a person or animal to leave a place.
The dogs barked loudly to drive off the intruder.
The police sirens helped drive off the protesters from the area.
2. To leave a location in a vehicle, often abruptly or quickly.
After the argument, she got into her car and drove off without looking back.