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to buzz off

to buzz off

12 8.4
To tell someone to go away right away in a rude or angry way
  • phrasal verb
  • /bʌz ɔf/
  • Offensive
translation icon : largarse
  • Tell her to buzz off, go on.
  • tell him to buzz off
  • just buzz off
  • go and buzz off

Examples

Synonyms

to fuck off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
104 9.9

Leave or tell someone to leave in a rude way

is equally forceful but less explicit in vulgarity
to shoo
vsto buzz off
  • Informal
35 7.0

To make a person or animal move away, for example by waving

is stronger and aimed at people with blunt dismissal
to scram
vsto buzz off
  • Informal
21 8.2

Leave a place right away, often because someone orders you to

shares immediacy but is more conversational and informal
to bugger off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
12 9.9

Tell someone to go away immediately in a rude way

is similar but not tied to a regional variety of speech
to shoo away
vsto buzz off
5 4.1

To make people or animals go away by waving your hand

is more verbally sharp and aimed at people rather than animals
to bug off
vsto buzz off
  • Informal
4 8.9

Tell someone to go away and leave you alone

is similar but typically feels slightly more abrupt
to screw off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
3 9.5

To tell someone rudely to go away or to stop working and relax

is similar but can also mean take a break in some contexts
to sod off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
3 9.9

Tell someone to go away in a rude way

is similar but can be less harsh in some uses
to shoo off
vsto buzz off
1 5.4

Make a person or animal go away with words and gestures

is more direct as a spoken, forceful command to leave immediately
to frig off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To tell someone rudely to go away and leave you alone

matches the anger and immediacy but uses milder slang
to take a flying leap
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
1 9.5

To tell someone rudely to leave

matches dismissal but usually sounds shorter and punchier
to kick rocks
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Tell someone to go away and leave you alone

is equally dismissive but often less idiomatic and slangy
away with someone
vsto buzz off
  • UK
9.9

Tells someone angrily to go away

is informal and blunt but slightly more casual in tone
to go to blazes
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
9.9

Angrily tell someone to go away

is a sharp immediate order rather than broad contempt
to eff off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude way to tell someone to go away without the real swear word

carries the same immediacy but is cruder or more direct
skiddoo
vsto buzz off
  • Archaic
9.9

A short spoken word telling someone to go away now

is similar but often sounds more casual and modern
to go climb a tree
vsto buzz off
  • Informal
9.8

To tell someone to go away and stop annoying you

is more forceful and urgent in tone
to duck off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
9.9

To leave quickly and quietly or tell someone rudely to go away

is more openly forceful and meant for immediate removal
to cock off
vsto buzz off
  • Offensive
9.9

To tell someone to go away using rude language

is similarly rude but usually less explicitly offensive

Antonyms

1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

532 2.1

To move closer in space to a person or thing

How Rude

to drop dead
  • Informal
52 8.4
to buzz off
  • Offensive
12 8.4
to go climb a tree
  • Informal
9.8
to go away
709 1.0

Surface Forms

buzz off infinitive
buzzed off past
buzzed off past participle
buzzing off present participle
buzzes off third person singular

Morphology

buzz + off

The verb 'buzz' (movement/noisy flight) combined with 'off' (away) yields a literal sense of moving away, so a learner who knows both words can often infer an imperative meaning 'go away'. However, the expression is colloquial and relies on a metaphorical/insect-like image and pragmatic force, so the exact force and register are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Buzz off comes from the image of a noisy insect you want to send away. Imagine a bee making a buzz and then flying off when you shoo it; that picture explains why the phrase means 'to go away' quickly and leave someone alone.