There are many phrasal verbs in English that use the word "off". Here are some of the more common.
Call off = cancel: "The proposed merger has been called off."
"The game was called off because of the rain."
Give off = smell: “The flowers give off a very pleasant aroma.
Go off = explode: “The bomb went off killing several people.”
Make off = run away: “The thieves made off with a lot of money.”
Pay off = settle your debt: "She saved money every month and finally managed to pay off her student loan."
Put off = (1) postpone: "They put off the decision for another month."
= (2) dissuade: "Falling prices put me off investing in the English property market."
Put off = delay: “The test was put off because the teacher got sick.”
Take off = do well: "Business has really taken off!"
Take off =
“The plane going to Paris took off at midnight.”
“It’s warm in here, so take off your coat.”
Write off = accept a loss: "We'll never get the money back – I think we should write it off."
see off = say goodbye
tell off = to speak angrily at someone because they have done something wrong.
Turn off = to stop using a piece of equipment by pressing a button or moving a switch: “Harry turned off the computer.”
Show off = to attract attention, to brag. ¨The Guitarist wanted to show off by playing really fast¨
Common Particles in Phrasal Verbs: OFF
Off has various meanings when it is used as a particle1 in a phrasal verb. While some of these meanings are literal, many are figurative. Here we will look at a few of these meanings and some examples.
Meaning 1
go away, leave a place or position
• lift off: We watched as the giant rocket lifted off.
• take off: Ed took three days off of work this week.
• veer off: After the small car hit the pothole, it veered off the road and into the ditch.
• make off: My ex-husband made off with all of the money in my bank acocunt.
• run off: Jackie ran off with her high school sweetheart, leaving her family behind.
Meaning 2
remove or get rid of something
• cut off: Michelle cut off the tags on her clothes before she wore them.
• work off: Iris gained five pounds on vacation. Now, she is working that extra weight off at the gym.
• take off: If it is too hot, feel free to take off your jacket.
• fall off: The pictures fell off the wall in the quake.
• cross off: I've already crossed several items off of my to-do list.
Meaning 3
start happening or start doing something
• kick off: The game kicked off a few minutes late.
• get off: We got off to a bad start, but now we are becoming better friends.
• spark off: The mayor's decision sparked off rioting in the poorer parts of town.
Meaning 4
finish or complete something
• carry off: I don't know if she'll be able to carry off the baby shower. It is in one week and she hasn't even sent out invitations yet!
• log off: Did you log off the computer before you left? If not, someone else could use your account.
• finish off: John finished off all the food in the refrigerator - and he's still hungry!
• round off: We're going to round off the trip with a visit to the Panecillo and a light lunch at Pim's.
• turn off: Please turn off the TV when you are finished.
Meaning 5
separate something from someone or something else, in order to keep it private, stop people entering it, etc.
• block off: The police blocked off the area while they were searching for the suspect.
• close off: The road was closed off because of the flooding.
• fend off: She carries a fly swatter to fend off mosquitoes and bees.
• fight off: I'm fighting off a cold.
• scare off: Jenny scares off all her boyfriends by talking about marriage and babies on the first date.
• laugh off: Clay just laughed off his mistake, but his boss didn't think it was funny.
• brush off: She's an expert at brushing off criticism. It doesn’t seem to bother her at all.
Meaning 6
get out of a bus, train, plane, etc. or let someone do this
• let off: You can let me off at the next corner.
• get off: When you get off the bus, check to make sure that you are at the right stop.
• drop off: You can drop off the books after 10 am. Alana will be expecting you.
Common Particles in Phrasal Verbs: OFF
Off has various meanings when it is used as a particle* in a phrasal verb. While some of these meanings are literal, many are figurative. Here we will look at a few of these meanings and some examples.
Meaning 1
go away, leave a place or position
• lift off: We watched as the giant rocket lifted off.
• take off: Ed took three days off of work this week.
• veer off: After the small car hit the pothole, it veered off the road and into the ditch.
• make off: My ex-husband made off with all of the money in my bank acocunt.
• run off: Jackie ran off with her high school sweetheart, leaving her family behind.
Meaning 2
remove or get rid of something
• cut off: Michelle cut off the tags on her clothes before she wore them.
• work off: Iris gained five pounds on vacation. Now, she is working that extra weight off at the gym.
• take off: If it is too hot, feel free to take off your jacket.
• fall off: The pictures fell off the wall in the quake.
• cross off: I've already crossed several items off of my to-do list.
Meaning 3
start happening or start doing something
• kick off: The game kicked off a few minutes late.
• get off: We got off to a bad start, but now we are becoming better friends.
• spark off: The mayor's decision sparked off rioting in the poorer parts of town.
Meaning 4
finish or complete something
• carry off: I don't know if she'll be able to carry off the baby shower. It is in one week and she hasn't even sent out invitations yet!
• log off: Did you log off the computer before you left? If not, someone else could use your account.
• finish off: John finished off all the food in the refrigerator - and he's still hungry!
• round off: We're going to round off the trip with a visit to the Panecillo and a light lunch at Pim's.
• turn off: Please turn off the TV when you are finished.
Meaning 5
separate something from someone or something else, in order to keep it private, stop people entering it, etc.
• block off: The police blocked off the area while they were searching for the suspect.
• close off: The road was closed off because of the flooding.
• fend off: She carries a fly swatter to fend off mosquitoes and bees.
• fight off: I'm fighting off a cold.
• scare off: Jenny scares off all her boyfriends by talking about marriage and babies on the first date.
• laugh off: Clay just laughed off his mistake, but his boss didn't think it was funny.
• brush off: She's an expert at brushing off criticism. It doesn’t seem to bother her at all.
Meaning 6
get out of a bus, train, plane, etc. or let someone do this
• let off: You can let me off at the next corner.
• get off: When you get off the bus, check to make sure that you are at the right stop.
• drop off: You can drop off the books after 10 am. Alana will be expecting you.
Stephany no meu Cross Fox
