Start Off

1. The beginning of an event, activity or time period.

Examples: It looks like you’re starting off the year by studying phrasal verbs!
The race started off at a really fast pace.

2. When something starts a certain way, but changes over time.

Examples: Their relationship started off happy, but got really bad in the end.
The movie starts off well, but it got so boring I left in the middle.

3. When someone begins a career, life, or existence (non-separable in this use).

Examples: Did you know that Tom Welling, the actor who played superman, started off as a construction worker?
Our manager started off as a salesperson. He got promoted two years later.

4. When you begin a journey (non-separable in this use).

Examples: The mountaineers started off early so they could reach the mountain’s peak by noon.
We started off late on our drive, because we forgot a lot of things.

See our complete list of English phrasal verbs.