What are the definitions of “hive off”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Separate part of a company or service, often by selling it.
They HIVED OFF the retail operations.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “hive off”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb hive off is to separate a part of a company or service, often by selling it. This can be done to streamline a business or to focus on specific areas of operation.
What are the different verb forms of “hive off”?
| Root Verb | hive off |
| Third Person Singular Present | hives off |
| Present Participle | hiving off |
| Simple Past | hived off |
| Past Participle | hived off |
Example
The company decided to hive off its manufacturing division.
Example
She hives off the less profitable parts of her business.
Example
They are hiving off their retail operations to focus on wholesale.
Example
Last year, they hived off their customer support department.
Example
The non-core assets have been hived off to improve efficiency.
What kind of phrasal verb is “hive off”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“hive off” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The company hived off its manufacturing division.
Example
She hived off the less profitable parts of her business.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“hive off” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The company hived off its manufacturing division.
Example
She hived off the less profitable parts of her business.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “hive off”?
Separate a smaller company or division from a larger parent company, often by selling it.
Example
The corporation decided to hive off its subsidiary to focus on its core business.
Good things to know
Does “hive off” have an informal or formal tone?
Hive off is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in business and financial settings to describe the process of separating parts of a company or organization.
