sound off

present singular third person sounds off · participle present sounding off · participle past sounded off · past sounded off

1. informaltransitiveTo hold forth about something in an opinionated manner.

   I'm sick of his sounding off about how he thinks this country should be run!

   1 more example

   I would give anything to be at the hearing so that I could really sound off about this attempt to cram another liquor license into Jamaica Plain. I say kill it today.

   1986 February 1, Kim Westheimer, quoting Albert O'Neil, “Board Hears Testimony on Saints' Liquor License”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 28, page 10

2. governmentCommand instructing a person to speak up or acknowledge something.

   Hartman: […] Do you maggots understand that? Recruits: Sir, yes, sir! Hartman: Bullshit! I can't hear you. Sound off like you got a pair. Recruits: SIR, YES, SIR!

   1987, Stanley Kubrick, director, Full Metal Jacket

3. governmentCommand instructing a person to confirm that they are present or that some other objective has been met.

   Cyclops: […] X-men… Sound off … Man 1: Iceman, sounding off!Man 2: Fireman, sounding off! Man 3: Clothing-Man, sounding off! Man 4: Ability-to-Hop-Man, here!

   2004, Astonishing X-Men, number 5, Marvel Comics

   1 more example

   Tagon: Sound off! Brad, do you have the Ambassador? Brad: Check! Tagon: Schlock, do you have our money? Schlock: Check! Tagon: Are we still being pursued? Creeth Soldiers: Check!

   2000 August 19, Schlock Mercenary