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off

off

∞ 1.0
Away from the surface of something after you remove it
  • adposition
  • /ɔf/
: de
  • Uniformed schoolchildren get on and off the bus as they do in any metropolis.
  • cut off
  • take off
  • stave off

What you do would get you thrown off a roof in Gaza.

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Examples

  • I mean, the whole world thinks that I threw myself off a bridge.

  • Would you take off your pyjama jacket, please?

  • - Do you think we ought to clear off, Norman?

  • Once that's done, send it off and wait.

  • Mina, you have to turn off your phone!

  • His teammates slapped his back as he walked off the field with his coach.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We can't just send off Lisa to the snake pit.

  • The large boulders scattered along the trail were broken off and dragged along by glacial action.

    Academic text (2011)
  • April 3: Fifteen youths are kicked off the tramway in the center of Grenoble.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Please switch the lights off when you leave the room.

Synonyms

away
vsoff
∞ 1.0

To make a worry or feeling leave your mind

indicates removal or stopping rather than complete disappearance

Antonyms

on
∞ 1.0

Having power so it works

232 1.0

Operating now and not stopped

Idioms

pissed off
  • Informal
235 8.6

Very angry or annoyed

first off
  • Informal
155 2.8

To say something before you do anything else

120 1.9

In the sea near the shore

off the hook
  • Informal
117 5.9

No longer in trouble or responsible for something

off the record
  • Literature
92 6.8

Said to a reporter that is not for publication

73 5.5

Not available to be considered or accepted

69 4.2

Not ready or paying attention when something happens

off the bat
  • Informal
58 6.5

Right away without waiting

Surprised and not ready for something that happens suddenly

off the charts
  • Informal
50 6.2

Much higher than normal in amount or level

49 7.2

Living without public electricity, water, or gas and without public services

off a cliff
  • Informal
45 7.4

Suddenly in a way that leads to great danger or failure

42 2.0

Happens sometimes but not regularly

40 4.0

Feeling unsteady in body or mind after something sudden

34 2.5

Happens sometimes but not regularly

hats off
  • Informal
32 7.2

To show respect or praise for someone's achievement

off the books
  • Informal
31 7.1

People keep money or wages off official records to avoid taxes and other rules

off the hook
  • Slang
28 8.2

Very exciting and impressive

ticked off
  • Informal
28 7.9

Feeling angry or annoyed about something

all bets are off
  • Informal
25 7.6

A situation where previous plans no longer apply and no one knows what will happen

off the wagon
  • Informal
22 8.3

Drinking alcohol again after stopping for a while

22 8.5

Shout at someone in a very angry way and threaten them

off the cuff
  • Informal
19 6.3

Said or done without planning first

18 7.1

Not noticed or known by most people

Just in case there is a small chance something will happen

18 6.5

Not accurate or correct

17 3.3

An item you can buy and use right away that is not made for you

14 3.0

Immediately without delay

11 6.8

Much higher than normal

In a place most people do not visit

Leave a situation happily to begin a new life

9 4.4

A person who is very like one of their parents in looks or behaviour

9 7.5

Speak to someone for a very long time in a way that annoys them

Started well and now making good progress

9 9.9

Command to cut off a person's head as punishment

8 9.0

Very exciting or impressive, and also free to move when set free

off to the races
  • Informal
8 7.0

To start a task quickly with a lot of energy

8 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

8 7.2

A person who gives all they have to help others

7 8.2

To do something dangerous or foolish because other people do it

To live without power, running water, or sewer services

5 3.6

To be easy and pleasant to say

5 9.5

Newly arrived in a country and not yet used to local customs

4 6.6

To show respect and praise for someone and their achievements

To admire and respect someone for what they have done

4 8.1

To act or speak without thinking first and cause problems

4 5.1

Suddenly understand something when an idea appears in your mind

In a place far from where most people go

4 8.4

Talk too much and say things you should not

the brush-off
  • Informal
4 7.0

A quick unfriendly answer that ignores someone

4 8.2

To frighten someone very much

So generous that they would give almost everything to help others

Compounds

440 3.5

In a richer or more comfortable situation than before

299 1.1

A day when you do not have to work

184 1.6

A time when you are not working, often to rest or recover

off-line
  • Specialized
126 3.1

Not connected to the internet or a computer

119 4.6

Not allowed to enter, use, or talk about

80 4.2

Very far away in place or time

51 4.0

Not following the planned path or topic

45 3.4

A time of year when hotels, shops, and places are less busy

44 3.7

Giving up one thing to get something else when you must choose

38 3.4

Having enough money to live comfortably

rip-off
  • Informal
31 7.2

A situation where someone charges too much money for something

off-Broadway
  • Specialized
29 6.8

Professional small theaters in New York City with fewer than 500 seats that show new or experimental plays

29 2.2

A place to leave people or things

25 5.6

An event that happens only once and is not repeated

24 5.3

Not taking an active part and allowing others to act freely

24 3.7

A new company, product, or show created from an existing one

22 5.3

A tense meeting between two people or groups on opposite sides

20 3.9

Happening away from the usual place or building

goofing off
  • Informal
19 7.7

Avoiding work by wasting time on other things

show-off
  • Offensive
16 4.8

A person who tries to get attention by doing things to impress others

16 3.7

An event to wish someone well before they leave or start something

16 6.0

An act of shooting a gun or rifle

off-the-clock
  • Informal
15 7.2

Work done outside paid hours without extra pay

off-the-wall
  • Informal
14 8.0

Strange and often funny in a surprising way

turn-off
  • Informal
13 5.0

Something that makes a person lose interest or feel dislike

13 3.9

A day when someone does not do as well as usual

tip-off
  • Literature
13 6.6

A secret message that warns people about planned illegal activity

write-off
  • Specialized
13 5.7

Removing the value of a debt or asset from accounts when it cannot be paid

13 4.5

A voice or instrument that sounds in the wrong pitch

13 4.9

Not ready or alert when something surprises you

11 4.4

Separated by cutting from a larger thing

11 4.4

Clothes made in standard sizes and sold in stores, not made for one person

11 4.1

The place or time where an event begins

11 3.0

Close to white with a slight hint of another color

off year
  • Literature
10 5.1

A year with no major national elections between big election years

off-color
  • Offensive
10 7.7

Slightly rude or indecent in a way meant to be funny

10 3.9

A sudden decrease in amount, quality or rate

9 3.8

An amount you can subtract from your income to reduce the tax you pay

A place, idea, or situation where new action begins

8 4.4

A contest where people compete by dancing to see who is best

tip-off
  • Jargon
8 4.6

The start of a basketball game when players jump for the ball

A gun with very short barrels that shoots many small metal balls at close range

off-kilter
  • Informal
8 7.5

Not straight or level and a little strange

7 7.2

Said or done without planning beforehand

sign-off
  • Formal
7 4.2

Final approval that allows a document or project to finish

6 5.2

A way to start play in ice hockey when a referee drops the puck between two players

6 3.2

Not happening when planned and running late

brush-off
  • Informal
6 6.0

A cold short reply that shows no interest

off-line
  • Specialized
5 4.5

Located away from the main transport route

Made in common sizes and sold ready to use

5 3.6

Away from a public street, often for parking or loading behind buildings

4 5.1

Driving a car or truck across rough natural land instead of roads

3 5.5

A very steep edge of land or rock

3 3.8

Happening sometimes and stopping at other times

Not covering the shoulders and leaving them bare in a dress or top

A control that turns power to a device on or off

goof-off
  • Informal
3 8.6

A person who avoids work and wastes time

2 4.5

A thing, often clothing, that someone has thrown away

2 4.8

A clear drop in how well something works or how much there is

wave-off
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A signal to stop an approach and try again

1 3.2

The first moment when a race or event begins

1 3.9

A short pause in an activity

1 5.1

A train or carriage that has moved off the rails

A place where someone starts a journey, project, or activity

1 6.0

A year when production or success is lower than usual

jump-off
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A short extra round to decide the winner in horse jumping

jump-off
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A person you have sex with once without a relationship

An area in a room or building separated from others by a hanging cloth to give privacy

1 4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

1 7.6

A baseball throw slower than a fastball that fools the batter

1 8.6

A sound not in tune or a remark that feels out of place

1 4.5

A vehicle like a car or bike that can drive on rough ground

1 6.4

A shop that sells alcoholic drinks to take away

Surface Forms

off main

Etymology

Off as a little word that shows removal comes from the root of meaning 'away'. So when you take your hat off or wipe dust off, you move it 'away' or remove it.