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off

off

165 1.0
At a distance in space or time
  • adverb
  • /ɔf/
translation icon : a cierta distancia
  • I know 2011 sounds like a long way off, but we're nowhere near that advanced yet.
  • far off

And I would just slowly look off to the side out the window.

Examples

  • By this time next year, we'll be off working on some other site.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • A couple questions, then off to the hotel.

  • It's been worked on here and in Russia, on and off, for over eight years.

  • After a few words from Peter, we are off and writing.

    Academic text (2006)
  • And then tomorrow it's off to the dentist, which I know you love.

  • I'd best be off soon.

  • Off to the movies we shall go

  • Then, from far off in the apartment, comes the sound of the doorbell ringing.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • My mother is sitting quietly off to one side, smiling almost beatifically.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • By this time next year, we'll be off working on some other site.

Synonyms

away
vsoff
1.0

To move or look to a place that is not here

is distance from a specific place or moment rather than general time

Antonyms

849 1.0

Happening or existing now

391 1.0

Close in distance, time, or relationship to something

Idioms

pissed off
  • Informal
197 8.6

Very angry or annoyed

off the hook
  • Informal
105 5.9

No longer in trouble or responsible for something

off the record
  • Literature
87 6.8

Said to a reporter that is not for publication

85 1.9

In the sea near the shore

first off
  • Informal
77 2.8

To say something before you do anything else

73 2.0

Happens sometimes but not regularly

60 5.5

Not available to be considered or accepted

off the bat
  • Informal
56 6.5

Right away without waiting

51 4.2

Not ready or paying attention when something happens

34 4.0

Feeling unsteady in body or mind after something sudden

33 7.2

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

off the charts
  • Informal
31 6.2

Much higher than normal in amount or level

30 2.5

Happens sometimes but not regularly

Surprised and not ready for something that happens suddenly

off the wagon
  • Informal
19 8.3

Drinking alcohol again after stopping for a while

16 6.5

Not accurate or correct

off the books
  • Informal
15 7.1

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

off the hook
  • Slang
14 8.2

Very exciting and impressive

13 8.4

Try very hard for a long time to do something

Just in case there is a small chance something will happen

12 7.1

Not noticed or known by most people

11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

off the cuff
  • Informal
11 6.3

Said or done without planning first

In a place most people do not visit

9 6.0

Talk about something worrying you so you feel better

Much higher than normal

8 3.0

Immediately without delay

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

Stop paying attention to what is important

7 4.4

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

6 9.0

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

hats off
  • Informal
6 7.2

To show respect or praise for someone's achievement

jacking off
  • Offensive
6 9.9

To touch your own private parts to feel good

5 6.6

To show respect and praise for someone and their achievements

Stop acting as if you are better than others

ticked off
  • Informal
5 7.9

Feeling angry or annoyed about something

off a cliff
  • Informal
5 7.4

Suddenly in a way that leads to great danger or failure

4 9.5

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

4 8.1

To act or speak without thinking first and cause problems

4 3.6

To be easy and pleasant to say

all bets are off
  • Informal
4 7.6

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

Started well and now making good progress

3 5.1

To make loud, long sounds because something is very funny

Leave a situation happily to begin a new life

3 8.4

Talk too much and say things you should not

3 8.2

To frighten someone very much

3 6.5

Make a very loud, long cry because you feel afraid, excited, or upset

the brush-off
  • Informal
3 7.0

A quick unfriendly answer that ignores someone

3 7.7

Win easily by a lot against another person or team

In a place far from where most people go

2 7.7

Stop criticizing or attacking someone after being angry

off to the races
  • Informal
2 7.0

To start a task quickly with a lot of energy

Compounds

457 3.5

In a richer or more comfortable situation than before

283 1.1

A day when you do not have to work

160 1.6

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

102 4.6

Not allowed to enter, use, or talk about

45 4.2

Very far away in place or time

44 3.7

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

35 2.2

A place to leave people or things

33 3.4

Having enough money to live comfortably

31 3.4

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

rip-off
  • Informal
31 7.2

A situation where someone charges too much money for something

26 5.3

Not taking an active part and allowing others to act freely

25 4.0

Not following the planned path or topic

24 5.1

The removal of part of something with a sharp tool, like a branch or wire

23 4.4

Separated by cutting from a larger thing

off-Broadway
  • Specialized
20 6.8

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

jerking off
  • Offensive
19 9.9

To touch your own penis to get sexual pleasure

write-off
  • Specialized
17 5.7

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

16 3.9

Happening away from the usual place or building

15 3.7

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

goofing off
  • Informal
13 7.7

Avoiding work by wasting time on other things

12 3.7

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

12 4.5

A voice or instrument that sounds in the wrong pitch

show-off
  • Offensive
12 4.8

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

10 3.9

A sudden decrease in amount, quality or rate

10 5.3

A tense meeting between two people or groups on opposite sides

off-the-clock
  • Informal
10 7.2

Work done outside paid hours without extra pay

9 4.8

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

9 6.0

An act of shooting a gun or rifle

8 5.2

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

8 5.6

An event that happens only once and is not repeated

off-color
  • Offensive
7 7.7

Slightly rude or indecent in a way meant to be funny

7 4.4

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

off-the-wall
  • Informal
7 8.0

Strange and often funny in a surprising way

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

7 4.4

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

off-kilter
  • Informal
7 7.5

Not straight or level and a little strange

A place, idea, or situation where new action begins

6 3.8

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

brush-off
  • Informal
5 6.0

A cold short reply that shows no interest

pick-off
  • Specialized
5 7.5

A play where the pitcher or catcher throws quickly to tag a runner off base

turn-off
  • Informal
5 5.0

Something that makes a person lose interest or feel dislike

5 4.7

A sudden end of an activity, relationship, or talk

5 5.5

A very steep edge of land or rock

4 3.0

Close to white with a slight hint of another color

4 4.1

The place or time where an event begins

4 3.2

Not happening when planned and running late

off year
  • Literature
4 5.1

A year with no major national elections between big election years

3 7.2

Said or done without planning beforehand

3 3.8

A paved area beside a main road where cars can stop briefly

3 3.9

A day when someone does not do as well as usual

3 4.9

Not ready or alert when something surprises you

3 5.1

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

sign-off
  • Formal
3 4.2

Final approval that allows a document or project to finish

3 5.2

An action that stops people from entering a place or communicating

3 3.8

Happening sometimes and stopping at other times

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

tip-off
  • Jargon
3 4.6

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

tip-off
  • Literature
2 6.6

A secret message that warns people about planned illegal activity

goof-off
  • Informal
2 8.6

A person who avoids work and wastes time

off-line
  • Specialized
2 3.1

Not connected to the internet or a computer

2 3.6

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

1 6.0

A year when production or success is lower than usual

Made in common sizes and sold ready to use

1 4.7

A case where someone is excused from punishment, often only warned

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

1 3.0

A pale color close to white with a slight hint of another color

A control that turns power to a device on or off

1 4.5

A thing, often clothing, that someone has thrown away

1 7.6

A baseball throw slower than a fastball that fools the batter

1 6.0

Clothes made in standard sizes that you can buy

1 5.1

A train or carriage that has moved off the rails

let-off
  • Specialized
1 9.4

The percentage a compound bow's pull drops at full draw, making it easier to hold

A British TV show where amateur bakers compete in weekly baking challenges

How Far

distant
246 2.8
away
1.0
off
165 1.0
near
240 1.0

Surface Forms

off positive

Etymology

Off meaning 'at a distance' also comes from the old sense 'away'. So if a date is a month off or an island is miles off, they are 'away' in time or space.