to trigger off
4
5.1
- phrasal verb
- /ˈtrɪɡər ɔf/
- UK
- The sudden change in temperature can easily trigger off the fire alarm.
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Watch on YouTubeSo now you see that that will trigger off and irritate all sorts of tissues at that very specific level and not others.
- So now you see that that will trigger off and irritate all sorts of tissues at that very specific level and not others.
Examples
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It was only 26 hours ago in the building you see behind me... that a bizarre, apparently motiveless shooting occurred... which has triggered off an intensive manhunt by Metro Police.
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It's too late to stop the changes we've triggered off, but we can slow them down by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, buying us time to study the problem and adapt to the changes.
Blog text (27) -
The one who triggered off this whole string of crimes.
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So now you see that that will trigger off and irritate all sorts of tissues at that very specific level and not others.
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But eventually some incident serious enough to trigger off an actual court prosecution would occur, perhaps a death, something of unusual seriousness.
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It triggered off a series of hallucinations.
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But for now, I think that you'll find a little S-and-M... will be necessary to trigger off a good, healthy series of hallucinations.
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And here's an ambulance, here's an ambulance siren, and that triggers off a panic attack because of all the associations.
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The loud noise from the explosion triggered off a chain reaction in the surrounding buildings.
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Seeing the spider on the wall triggered off her intense fear of arachnids.
Synonyms
425
4.2
To cause something to start or happen
418
3.6
To make a machine, system, or account start working
276
3.1
To cause something to start or happen
216
3.4
To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling
134
3.7
Cause a reaction or feeling
48
3.5
To make something begin to move or happen
37
6.5
To make a switch or device start working by turning it on
32
7.5
To cause something to happen suddenly before it was expected
16
7.4
Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly
3
3.9
To cause a sudden event or strong reaction to begin
3
6.7
Something that causes a sudden, unexpected event or change
2
7.3
To make a machine start working
Antonyms
How Forceful
- UK
4
5.1
- US
16
7.4
- Informal
3
3.9
276
3.1
166
3.0
168
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core verb 'trigger' already means 'to cause or start', and the particle 'off' adds the sense of initiating or setting something in motion, so the combined meaning 'to cause something to start' is directly derivable from the parts. This V+particle pattern is a common and predictable composition in English (and has clear equivalents in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand the MWE.
Etymology
The phrasal verb trigger off comes from the image of pulling a gun's trigger, which makes something happen at once, while off adds the idea of starting or setting something in motion. So, to trigger off something is 'to cause it to start suddenly'.