to block off
23
3.8
- phrasal verb
- /blɑk ɔf/
:
bloquear
- The city blocked off the main road for construction, causing delays for drivers.
- block off the street
- block off the road
- block off the entrance
Indeed, the Royal Navy tried to block off the English Channel with steel Nets and mines.
- Indeed, the Royal Navy tried to block off the English Channel with steel Nets and mines.
- The assaulters had to fight through my vehicle, blocked off the portion of the road so they couldn't squirt across.
- Yeah, somehow, someway the freeway got blocked off and they're doing, you know, Donuts on the freeway.
Examples
-
Suddenly, a truck blocks off their only escape route.
Fiction book (1996) -
The whole area has been blocked off.
-
- The workers have blocked off part of the north parking lot.
-
We're gonna block off the ramp leading down here, all right?
-
The street is blocked off, with fire engines and police cars.
Fiction book (2000) -
The facilities director showed him the areas blocked off with caution tape.
Academic text (2009) -
I think having parts of major roads still blocked off, like Queen Anne, is ridiculous.
Blog text (24) -
We've got this area blocked off.
-
Once the ambulance arrived, officers blocked off Guerrero between 17th and 18th streets.
Blog text (4) -
After Hurricane Wilma, Alejandro's neighborhood was completely blocked off by downed trees and deadly live electrical wires.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
∞
3.0
To stop movement, access, or progress
119
5.1
To block a path or view
47
3.9
Stop people from entering or leaving an area by blocking it
42
4.8
To stop people from entering a place by putting up a barrier
24
3.9
Stop people or vehicles from entering a place
24
5.8
To block off an area with people or barriers to keep people away
20
6.3
Stop people entering or leaving an area by using police and barriers
11
4.0
Prevent someone or somewhere from having contact with others
9
6.0
To stop people and goods entering or leaving a place, often during war
7
2.8
To block a path or entrance by placing something across it
4
3.8
To stop movement through a road, pipe, or path
4
3.7
Surround an area with a fence to stop people from entering
3
4.8
To keep people out of an area by putting ropes around it
To block a place so people cannot enter, often by putting up a fence
To block a place with things to stop people from entering
To separate people or part of a place by putting up a barrier
To block an opening to stop liquid or gas passing through
How Obstructed
47
3.9
42
4.8
23
3.8
∞
1.0
119
5.1
361
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to close or obstruct an area so people cannot pass' is directly derivable from combining 'block' (to stop or obstruct) with the particle 'off', which contributes a sense of separation/closure. This verb+particle composition follows a common, compositional English pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents should readily understand.
Etymology
Block off The phrasal verb block off comes from the picture of putting a heavy block across a road or entrance to keep people off it. That's why it means 'to close' a place or 'stop people from entering'.