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Glite Dictionary
to spark off

to spark off

1 3.9
To cause a sudden event or strong reaction to begin
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : desencadenar
  • His controversial remarks sparked off a heated debate among the audience.

And what was that moment where this, this whole situation even sparked off?

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Examples

  • And the wrong word said at that time could've just sparked off the whole thing.

    Blog text (14)

  • The sudden increase in fuel prices sparked off protests across the country.

  • The discussion was sparked off by this statement:

    Blog text (6)

  • And then it really sparked off when Georgia, which is very close to Russia, joined NATO.

  • Bad harvests and high prices led to much poverty, which, in turn, sparked off rioting in the area.

    Blog text (27)

  • Theodore Maimon actually built the first laser, and that sparked off an entirely new era in our world.

    The Royal Institution

  • SR: It wasn't so much the specifics of his suggestions; it was the conversations that those suggestions sparked off.

    Blog text (1)

  • The discovery of the ancient artifacts sparked off interest in the region's history.

Synonyms

to activate
vsto spark off
715 3.6

To make a machine, system, or account start working

focuses on sudden initiation rather than steady activation
to trigger
vsto spark off
422 4.2

To cause something to start or happen

stresses sudden beginning as its main distinguishing feature
to spark
vsto spark off
154 3.4

To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling

is about causing sudden starts rather than gradual activation
to set off
vsto spark off
131 3.1

To cause something to start or happen

is used when the start is sudden rather than merely activated
to trip
vsto spark off
36 6.5

To make a switch or device start working by turning it on

is about triggering sudden events rather than operating devices
to touch off
vsto spark off
  • US
15 7.4

Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly

emphasizes sudden triggering of processes rather than slow change
to trigger off
vsto spark off
  • UK
1 5.1

To cause something to start suddenly

is focused on sudden beginnings rather than slow initiation
to actuate
vsto spark off
  • Specialized
1 7.3

To make a machine start working

is about causing quick or sudden starts rather than mechanical start
precipitating
vsto spark off
  • Formal
6.7

Something that causes a sudden, unexpected event or change

highlights sudden onset as the main difference from gradual starts

Antonyms

to stop
∞ 1.0

To make something end and not continue

to prevent
∞ 2.3

Stop something from happening or someone from doing it

How Powerful

to ignite
66 4.0
to cause
∞ 1.0
to spark off
  • Informal
1 3.9
to prompt
217 3.6
to suggest
∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

spark off infinitive
sparked off past
sparked off past participle
sparking off present participle
sparks off third person singular

Morphology

spark + off

The verb 'spark' already carries the sense 'to provoke or trigger' and the particle 'off' adds the sense of initiating or setting something in motion, so the combined meaning 'to cause something to begin suddenly' is directly derivable from the parts. The fire/spark metaphor for starting a reaction is cross-linguistically common, making this construction immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Spark off comes from the image of a small spark jumping off something and starting a fire. Because a tiny spark can cause a big blaze, the phrase now means 'to start' or 'to trigger' an event or reaction.