Offing \Off"ing\ ([o^]f"[i^]ng; 115), n. [From {Off}.]
That part of the sea at a good distance from the shore, or
where there is deep water and no need of a pilot; also,
distance from the shore; as, the ship had ten miles offing;
we saw a ship in the offing.
[1913 Webster]
{in the offing}
(a) coming; arriving in the foreseeable future.
(b) visible but not nearby.
[PJC]