sound off

sound off

English

Verb

sound off (third-person singular simple present sounds off, present participle sounding off, simple past and past participle sounded off)

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

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

2. (military) Command instructing a person to speak up or acknowledge something.
   • 1987, Stanley Kubrick, director, Full Metal Jacket:

     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!

     excerpt obtained from Wikiquote's page on Full Metal Jacket

3. (military) Command instructing a person to confirm that they are present or that some other objective has been met.
   • 2004, Astonishing X-Men, number 5, Marvel Comics:

     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!

     passage obtained from Wikiquote's page on Astonishing X-Men

   • 2000 August 19, Schlock Mercenary:

     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!
     

     quote obtained from Wikiquote's page on Schlock Mercenary

See also

• noises off