bounce off

present singular third person bounces off · participle present bouncing off · participle past bounced off · past bounced off

1. idiomaticinformaltransitiveTo test (ideas) on someone.

   Let me bounce an idea off you.

   1 more example

   I have a plan to bounce off you.

2. transitiveTo use as a springboard for further discussion.

   My comments about the resolutions come after Pat and Gayle have explained their objections and talked about what they think their effects will be. My remark is bouncing off of what they said, feeding it back to them in an attempt to continue the flow off the interview.

   1981 August 29, Nancy Wechsler, “Pornography and the Lawyers Guild”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 7, page 4

3. intransitiveTo move away with a bouncing movement.

   She bounced off out of the room.

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bounce, off.