Used when someone physically walks to measure a space, not just looking or guessing. She paced off the distance between tents to ensure they had enough room.
Pro Tip 2/3
Practical Use
Often used in outdoors or practical contexts like construction, gardening, or setting up a space. Can you pace off the length of the lawn for the new fence?
Pro Tip 3/3
Estimation
It's about estimating rather than precise measuring, steps are not an exact unit. I paced off about twenty steps to where the ball landed.