off
off — verb
1. to take the life of a person on purpose, usually as part of a violent or crimina
to take the life of a person on purpose, usually as part of a violent or criminal act.
In the final scene, the masked villain offs the detective with a single shot.
off + somebody for killing in a story
The gang offed two rival members behind an old warehouse near the docks.
transitive: off + person object
Detective Ramos believed the boss had ordered someone to off the witness before the trial.
infinitive: ordered to off + somebody
Marcus joked that his brother would off him if the secret ever got out.
informal hyperbole, not literal
Two characters get offed in the very first chapter of the novel.
passive: get offed
- off a witness
- off a rival
- get offed
- have someone offed
- order someone to off
Grammar Patterns
off + somebody
Usage Note
Strongly informal and slang; common in crime fiction, films, and casual speech but inappropriate in formal or news writing. Object is almost always a person, and the killing is usually deliberate.
Common Mistakes
off — noun
1. the moment when a person or vehicle sets out and leaves a place, often used to t
the moment when a person or vehicle sets out and leaves a place, often used to talk about beginning a journey.
Sophie waved from the door as the coach made its off toward London.
preceded by 'the'; refers to a departure moment
The taxi driver checked the map one last time before the off.
fixed pattern: 'before the off'
Grandpa hugged each child tightly just before the off to the airport.
Ready for the off, Marcus loaded his suitcase into the boot.
sentence-initial 'Ready for the off'
- before the off
- ready for the off
- after the off
- arrival
the moment of reaching a place rather than leaving one
Grammar Patterns
the off
Usage Note
Almost always appears as 'the off' with a definite article. Common in British English in phrases like 'ready for the off' or 'before the off'.
Common Mistakes
2. the very start of a race, game, or activity, especially used in the phrase 'from
the very start of a race, game, or activity, especially used in the phrase 'from the off' to mean right from the moment something begins.
Lina took the lead from the off and never let any rival catch her.
fixed phrase: 'from the off' = from the very start
The horses were nervous and one bolted just before the off.
racing context: 'before the off' = before the starting signal
From the off, the new manager pushed his players to train harder each day.
sentence-initial 'From the off,'
Diego struggled with the language from the off but improved by the second month.
- from the off
- right from the off
- straight from the off
- finish
the closing moment rather than the opening one
Grammar Patterns
from the off
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense centres on the starting point of a contest or activity, while sense 1 centres on physical leaving. Most common in 'from the off'.
Common Mistakes
3. in the sport of cricket, the half of the playing area that lies in front of the
in the sport of cricket, the half of the playing area that lies in front of the batter as they stand ready to hit the ball; the side opposite the leg side.
The young batter drove the ball cleanly through the off for a boundary.
collocation: 'through the off'
Captain Patel placed two fielders deep on the off to stop easy runs.
collocation: 'on the off'
Most of his shots that afternoon went to the off rather than the leg side.
contrasted with 'leg side'
The bowler aimed each delivery just outside the off to tempt a wild swing.
- on the off
- through the off
- outside the off
- off side
fuller form of the same cricket term; interchangeable in match commentary
Grammar Patterns
on the off
Usage Note
Cricket-specific term, almost always uncountable and used with 'the'. The mirror-image side is called the 'leg' or 'leg side'. The exact location flips depending on whether the batter is right- or left-handed.
Common Mistakes
off — adjective
1. used after a verb to say that a planned meeting, match, party, or similar event
used after a verb to say that a planned meeting, match, party, or similar event will no longer take place because someone has decided to cancel it.
Élise told the guests that the wedding was off because the bride had changed her mind.
predicative: be off after a verb of communication
The football match between the two schools is off after heavy snow buried the pitch.
subject = an arranged event (match)
Linda phoned at lunchtime to tell me that our trip to Kyoto was off.
The deal between the two companies was suddenly off after the boss refused to sign.
subject = arranged deal
If the rain keeps falling, the village fair on Saturday will be off.
- the wedding is off
- the match is off
- the deal is off
- the party is off
- cancelled
more formal and used in writing; 'off' is the spoken everyday word
- called off
verb phrase that describes the action; 'off' as adjective describes the resulting state
- on
the natural opposite — 'the wedding is on' means it will go ahead as planned
Grammar Patterns
be off
the [event] is off
Usage Note
Subject is almost always a planned event (wedding, match, deal, party, trip). Used predicatively after 'be' or verbs of reporting like 'tell' or 'say'; never placed before a noun.
Common Mistakes
2. used after words like 'well', 'badly', 'better', or 'worse' to describe how much
used after words like 'well', 'badly', 'better', or 'worse' to describe how much money someone has, or how good their general situation is compared with other people.
The Patel family is quite well off and owns a large house near the lake.
well off = having plenty of money
Many older people are badly off because their pensions barely cover the rent.
badly off = short of money
Carla felt she was better off after she moved to a smaller flat in the suburbs.
better off = in an improved situation
Workers will be worse off if the new tax law passes next year.
worse off = in a poorer position
How well off are the farmers in this valley compared with those by the coast?
comparative use with how
- well off
- badly off
- better off
- worse off
- how well off
- well off / badly off
the two ends form their own internal opposition within this sense
Grammar Patterns
be well off
be badly off
be better off
be worse off
Usage Note
Always preceded by an adverb of degree like 'well', 'badly', 'better', 'worse', or 'how'. Without that adverb the meaning collapses, so this sense never appears bare. Distinguish from sense 1 (cancelled) by checking for that adverbial pair.
Common Mistakes
3. less good than the level you usually reach or than what people expect — used abo
less good than the level you usually reach or than what people expect — used about a player's performance, a singer's voice, sales figures, or a person's general form on a particular day.
The goalkeeper was clearly off during Sunday's match and let in three easy shots.
subject = performer; predicative
Sales at the bakery have been off all winter, and the owner is worried about closing.
subject = numbers / sales
Maya's serve was a little off in the third set, so she lost two break points.
minimiser: 'a little off'
The pianist admitted that his timing felt off during the quiet middle section.
Attendance figures at the museum were noticeably off after the ticket price went up.
- a bit off
- a little off
- noticeably off
- off form
- on form
performing at one's best — the natural opposite for a player or singer
Grammar Patterns
be off
[performance] is off
Usage Note
Subject is typically a performance, a skill, a number, or the person displaying that skill. Often softened with 'a bit', 'a little', or 'slightly'. Distinguish from sense 1 (cancelled): here the activity still happens, it just goes worse than usual.
Common Mistakes
4. no longer safe or pleasant for someone to swallow, because the item has been kep
no longer safe or pleasant for someone to swallow, because the item has been kept too long and has started to smell, taste, or look wrong.
Throw out that milk — it has been in the fridge for two weeks and is definitely off.
predicative: be off; food subject
The chicken smelled off the moment Hana opened the packet, so she binned it.
collocation: smell off
The yogurt tastes a bit off, but the date on the lid says it is still fine.
collocation: taste a bit off
We poured the wine down the sink because it was clearly off after the long flight.
If the eggs are off, you will know the second you crack one into the bowl.
conditional pattern
- smell off
- taste off
- go off
- the milk is off
- fresh
the everyday opposite for food and drink
Grammar Patterns
go off
be off
smell off
taste off
Usage Note
Subject must be food or drink. Frequently paired with sensory verbs like 'smell', 'taste', or 'look' as a copular complement. The phrase 'go off' is the dynamic version meaning the food turns bad over time.
Common Mistakes
5. used about a dish on a restaurant menu when the kitchen has run out of it, so cu
used about a dish on a restaurant menu when the kitchen has run out of it, so customers cannot order it for the rest of that day.
The waiter apologised and explained that the lamb stew was off this evening.
predicative; subject = menu dish
Sorry, the seafood pasta is off — would you like to choose something else from the menu?
spoken pattern in a restaurant
Two of the desserts were already off by the time Daniel arrived for dinner at nine.
Whenever the fresh tuna sells out, the chef writes a note saying that the dish is off.
I was looking forward to the duck, but the waitress said it was off tonight.
- the [dish] is off
- is off tonight
- is off this evening
- sold out
very close; works in shops too, while 'off' in this sense lives mainly in restaurants
- unavailable
more formal and broader; restaurants prefer the short word 'off'
- available
general opposite; in a restaurant context 'on' is sometimes used informally
Grammar Patterns
be off
the [dish] is off
Usage Note
Subject is the name of a dish or menu item, not the restaurant or the customer. Distinguish from sense 4 (gone bad): sense 5 means the kitchen has none left, while sense 4 means the food itself is spoiled.
Common Mistakes
6. behaving in a cold or unfriendly way that ignores how other people might feel —
behaving in a cold or unfriendly way that ignores how other people might feel — often used by British speakers about a remark or action that crosses the line of politeness.
The shop assistant was really off with Grandma when she asked for a refund on the kettle.
pattern: be off with someone
Cancelling the dinner by text two hours before was a bit off, in Olivia's opinion.
collocation: a bit off (about behaviour)
Tom thought it was off of his neighbour to play loud music at three in the morning.
Laughing at her accent in the meeting was off and several colleagues complained.
Don't you think it was a little off to leave the party without thanking the host?
softened with 'a little'
- a bit off
- really off
- off with someone
- rather off
- rude
stronger and more direct; 'off' is gentler British understatement
- unfriendly
close in tone; 'off' adds a sense that a polite line was crossed
- polite
natural opposite, especially in British social use
Grammar Patterns
be off with someone
[behaviour] is a bit off
Usage Note
Mainly British informal English. Often softened with 'a bit', 'a little', or 'rather'. Subject can be a person ('he was off with me') or a piece of behaviour ('that comment was off'). Distinguish from senses 4 and 5, which need a food subject.
Common Mistakes
off — abbreviation
1. a written short form of the words 'office', 'officer', or 'official', used mainl
a written short form of the words 'office', 'officer', or 'official', used mainly in directories, military lists, name plates, and government records to save space.
The directory listed Captain Singh as 'Comm. Off.' next to his unit number.
abbreviation in a military directory entry
Maya saw 'Post Off.' printed above the door of the small village building.
abbreviation on a building sign
Each name plate in the corridor showed a title shortened to 'Off.' for space.
The school staff list wrote 'Att. Off.' beside Mr. Chen, the attendance officer.
Att. Off. = Attendance Officer
- Post Off.
- Comm. Off.
- Med. Off.
- Att. Off.
Usage Note
Almost always written, not spoken. Readers must rely on context (directory, sign, government list) to decide whether 'Off.' stands for 'office', 'officer', or 'official'.
Common Mistakes
off — adverb
1. moving or located some distance from a place, person, or moment in time, typical
moving or located some distance from a place, person, or moment in time, typically leaving where you are now.
Marcus waved goodbye and ran off down the street to catch the bus.
verb + off + direction phrase
The Watanabe family is off to Kyoto next weekend for a short holiday.
be + off + to + destination
Lina drove off before her sister could finish saying goodbye.
The exam is still three weeks off, so there is plenty of time to study.
off = at a distance in time
Carlos hurried off to the station after he heard the siren.
- run off
- drive off
- off to school
- weeks off
Grammar Patterns
verb + off
off + to + place
Usage Note
Often follows verbs of motion (run, drive, walk, hurry, set). With a time noun, the meaning shifts to 'in the future': 'two days off', 'a month off'.
Common Mistakes
2. describing the action of taking one thing away from the surface of another, or o
describing the action of taking one thing away from the surface of another, or of one thing coming loose from another.
Maya wiped the dust off with a damp cloth before painting the shelf.
wipe + off (clean by removal)
Please take your shoes off before you walk on the new carpet.
take + [clothing] + off
A button fell off Marcus's coat while he was running for the train.
fall + off (separate by itself)
The old paint was peeling off the wooden window frame in long strips.
Lina pulled the price tag off the new shirt and put it in the drawer.
- take off
- wipe off
- fall off
- peel off
- away
for separation, but less natural with clothing or labels
- on
the opposite for clothing and surfaces ('put it on' / 'take it off')
Grammar Patterns
verb + off
take/pull/wipe + something + off
Usage Note
Pairs with verbs like take, pull, wipe, peel, fall, come, scrape. The thing removed is the object; the surface it leaves is often introduced by a following 'off [the surface]' (sense overlaps with the preposition use).
Common Mistakes
3. describing a machine, light, tap, or similar device that has been switched so th
describing a machine, light, tap, or similar device that has been switched so that it stops working or producing power.
Carlos turned the lights off before leaving the office for the night.
turn + something + off
The heating goes off automatically at eleven every night to save energy.
go + off (= stop running)
Dr. Tanaka asked the children to switch their phones off during the lesson.
switch + something + off
The tap was still off, so no water came out when Maya tried the sink.
be + off (in the off position)
Please make sure the oven is off before you leave the kitchen.
- turn off
- switch off
- shut off
- go off
- out
used for fires and lights ('the fire is out'), not machines
- on
the standard opposite for devices, lights, and taps
Grammar Patterns
be + off
turn/switch + something + off
Usage Note
Often paired with 'turn / switch / shut'. Note: 'go off' in this sense means 'stop running'; with alarms or bombs it means 'start ringing' or 'explode' — context decides which.
Common Mistakes
4. by an amount that is subtracted from what something normally costs, making it ch
by an amount that is subtracted from what something normally costs, making it cheaper than the usual price.
The bookshop is offering twenty percent off all hardback novels this week.
[percent] + off + [item]
Lina got five dollars off the jacket because of a small mark on the sleeve.
get + [amount] + off + [item]
With this coupon you can take three euros off your next coffee order.
The shop took ten pounds off the printer because it was the last one in stock.
Members of the gym get fifteen percent off all classes booked online.
- 10% off
- $5 off
- take off the price
- money off
- discount
noun, used differently: 'a 20% discount' = '20% off'
Grammar Patterns
[amount] + off
[percent] + off
Usage Note
The amount comes before 'off' (10% off, $5 off), and the item or total comes after 'off'. Common with verbs 'get', 'take', 'have', and on signs in shops.
Common Mistakes
5. during a period when you are not doing your job, usually because you are sick, o
during a period when you are not doing your job, usually because you are sick, on holiday, or simply not scheduled.
Marcus has Friday off this week so he can drive his mother to the hospital.
have + [day] + off
Maya is taking two weeks off in August to visit her grandparents in Taipei.
take + [time] + off
Dr. Tanaka was off yesterday because she had a bad cold.
be + off (= absent from work)
Most teachers get the whole summer off, but they often plan lessons at home.
Carlos asked his boss for the afternoon off to attend his daughter's school play.
- have a day off
- take time off
- off sick
- off work
- away
softer; can also mean physically not present (travelling)
- on
informal: 'I'm on tomorrow' = scheduled to work
Grammar Patterns
have + [time] + off
take + [time] + off
be + off
Usage Note
Pattern: '[time period] + off'. Often used with 'have', 'take', 'get', 'be'. The time can be a day, week, afternoon, or longer holiday.
Common Mistakes
6. in a way that divides one part from another or keeps something apart, often usin
in a way that divides one part from another or keeps something apart, often using a wall, rope, line, or barrier.
The police roped off the corner where the accident happened so traffic could pass.
rope + off + area
A low wooden fence sections off the children's play area from the main garden.
section + off + area
Maya cut a small piece off the cake and gave it to her younger brother.
cut + [piece] + off + [whole]
The gardener marked off a square of soil where the new tomatoes would grow.
Workers walled off the back room while they painted the rest of the cafe.
- rope off
- section off
- wall off
- cut off (a piece)
- apart
describes the result; 'off' describes the action of separating
Grammar Patterns
verb + off
block/wall/fence + off
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 (REMOVED): sense 2 means a thing comes away from a surface; sense 6 means a region or piece is set apart from a larger whole, usually as a deliberate division. Common with rope, fence, wall, mark, cut, section, block.
Common Mistakes
7. to the point where nothing is left, because every bit has been used, eaten, sold
to the point where nothing is left, because every bit has been used, eaten, sold, or because every living thing has died.
The hungry kids polished off three large pizzas in under twenty minutes.
polish + off: finish food completely
A long drought killed off most of the apple trees in Grandpa's orchard.
kill + off: wipe out a population entirely
Maya finally paid off her student loan after eight years of saving.
pay + off: clear a debt completely
The bakery sold off the last six loaves at half price before closing.
sell + off: dispose of remaining stock
Cold winters had wiped off the small fishing village by the year 1850.
- polish off
- finish off
- kill off
- pay off
- sell off
- wipe off
Grammar Patterns
verb + off (resultative, often after kill, finish, eat, drink, sell, pay)
Usage Note
Almost always glued to a verb (polish off, finish off, kill off, pay off, sell off) rather than standing alone. Distinguish from sense 6 (SEPARATED): here the object is consumed or eliminated, not detached.
Common Mistakes
8. in a way that pushes something unwanted away from yourself — a worry, a cold, a
in a way that pushes something unwanted away from yourself — a worry, a cold, a habit, or even an old item — so it no longer affects you.
Lina shook off the bad mood by going for a long walk in the park.
shake + off: rid yourself of a feeling
Marcus tried to sleep off his headache before the evening meeting.
sleep + off: get rid of an ailment by sleeping
The runner could not throw off the cough she had picked up in March.
throw + off: shed an illness
After the divorce, Aunt Rosa cast off her old wedding photos and started fresh.
cast + off: discard unwanted things
A hot shower helped Carlos work off the stress of the long shift.
work + off: get rid of stress through activity
- shake off
- throw off
- sleep off
- work off
- cast off
- away
'away' as in 'wish away', 'walk away from' — also signals removal, but 'off' implies the thing was clinging to you.
Grammar Patterns
verb + off + object (e.g. throw off, shake off, cast off, sleep off)
Usage Note
Subject is the person bothered by the unwanted thing; object is the thing being shed (a feeling, illness, debt-like burden, or possession). Distinguish from sense 7: sense 7 finishes things by using them up, while sense 8 pushes things away because they bother you.
Common Mistakes
9. tacked onto an everyday activity verb to spontaneously coin the name of a one-of
tacked onto an everyday activity verb to spontaneously coin the name of a one-off, informal showdown between specific rivals — usually playful and invented on the spot, like a sing-off between two friends or a rap-off at a party.
The two food bloggers settled their argument with a noodle-off at Saturday's street fair.
ad-hoc coinage: noodle-off invented for one occasion
Maya and her cousin staged a sing-off in the kitchen after their grandmother dared them.
playful nonce-form: sing-off between named rivals
Carlos and Daniel turned a quiet evening into a chess-off that lasted past midnight.
spontaneous formation: chess-off coined on the fly
Whenever Lina visits, she and her uncle have a karaoke-off in the living room.
informal one-on-one: karaoke-off between two named people
The two cousins ended every family party with a rap-off near the speakers.
- sing-off
- rap-off
- karaoke-off
- chess-off
- noodle-off
Grammar Patterns
noun + -off (e.g. cook-off, dance-off, bake-off, run-off)
Usage Note
Productive nonce-suffix attached to a fresh activity verb to coin a one-time, informal contest between named rivals (sing-off, rap-off, karaoke-off, noodle-off). Distinguish from noun combining form/1, which covers the small set of fully established, dictionary-listed -off nouns (play-off, run-off, face-off, tip-off). Use this sense when the formation is invented on the spot for a specific occasion rather than referring to a standard event.
Common Mistakes
To be in a more favorable or less favorable situation than before or than someone else.
Mia is better off working from home than commuting daily.
Would we be worse off if we sold the car now?
be off for something
idiomTo have a certain amount or supply of something.
How are we off for milk? We need to buy more.
The office is well off for printers after the new delivery.
To have a particular level of wealth or financial comfort.
After the promotion, Sara is better off than before.
Many families are badly off due to rising costs.
Occasionally or intermittently, not continuously.
Diego has been studying Spanish off and on for years.
The rain fell on and off throughout the afternoon.
off — noun combining form
1. the second piece of a small set of standard, dictionary-listed compound nouns th
the second piece of a small set of standard, dictionary-listed compound nouns that name a recognised type of organised contest — for example, a play-off in sports, a run-off in elections, a face-off in ice hockey, or a tip-off at the start of a basketball game.
The Lakers reached the play-offs after winning their final two regular-season games.
lexicalized compound: play-off as standard sports term
Neither candidate won a majority, so the state scheduled a run-off for next month.
lexicalized compound: run-off as standard election term
The referee dropped the puck for the face-off at centre ice.
lexicalized compound: face-off as standard hockey term
Marcus glanced at the clock just as the tip-off began at the basketball arena.
lexicalized compound: tip-off as standard basketball term
The newspaper ran a long preview of Sunday's stand-off between the two top teams.
- a play-off
- a run-off
- a face-off
- a tip-off
- a stand-off
- reach the play-offs
- win the run-off
- contest
general noun for any competition; '-off' compounds are a specific type
- showdown
informal; emphasises a final, decisive clash between rivals
- tie-breaker
narrower — only the extra round used to settle a draw
Grammar Patterns
[noun/verb] + -off
Usage Note
Use this sense for the established, dictionary-entry compound nouns — play-off, run-off, face-off, tip-off, stand-off. These are fixed terminology in sports, politics, or military contexts and are not invented on the spot. Distinguish from adverb/9, which covers fresh, playful, one-off coinages (sing-off, rap-off, karaoke-off) made up for a specific occasion. If the compound appears as a headword in a standard dictionary, it belongs here.
Common Mistakes
off — preposition
1. leaving the surface, vehicle, road, or location that something or someone was on
leaving the surface, vehicle, road, or location that something or someone was on, in, or at.
Maya stepped off the train and waved at her grandmother on the platform.
step off + vehicle
The cat jumped off the kitchen counter when Marcus opened a tin of tuna.
jump off + surface
Please keep off the grass while the gardeners are planting new flowers.
keep off + place (signage register)
The lorry skidded off the motorway during the heavy snowstorm last night.
skid off + road
Lina took two days off school after her piano exam in March.
take time off + institution
- step off
- jump off
- fall off
- get off
- keep off
Grammar Patterns
off + noun (place / surface / vehicle)
Usage Note
Subject is usually a person, vehicle, or object that was previously on or attached to something physical. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 emphasises the location someone leaves, while sense 2 emphasises the action of removing.
Common Mistakes
2. showing the source from which something is taken, removed, bought, or stolen — t
showing the source from which something is taken, removed, bought, or stolen — that is, the person, place, or thing it was attached to or belonged to.
Carlos cut a small branch off the apple tree for his school project.
cut + thing + off + source
I bought this leather jacket off a friend at the night market last Saturday.
buy + thing + off + person (informal)
The waiter wiped the spilled juice off Mei-ling's blue silk dress.
wipe + thing + off + surface
Someone had stolen the wheels off Daniel's bicycle outside the library.
passive: have + thing + stolen + off
Grandma peeled the skin off the mango before slicing it into the salad.
peel + thing + off + object
- take off
- wipe off
- buy off
- borrow off
- peel off
- from
more formal; preferred in writing for 'borrow / buy / receive from someone'
- onto
the opposite direction of attachment
Grammar Patterns
take/buy/borrow + something + off + person/place
Usage Note
Often replaces 'from' in spoken English when the source is a person you got something from ('I borrowed this off my brother'). In writing, 'from' is safer. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on what is removed, not on who or what is moving.
Common Mistakes
3. no longer wanting, eating, drinking, or using something that you used to enjoy o
no longer wanting, eating, drinking, or using something that you used to enjoy or depend on, often because you have lost interest, feel ill, or are trying to stop.
Aunt Rosa has been off coffee for three weeks because of her stomach problems.
be off + food/drink (after illness)
Marcus is finally off cigarettes after smoking a pack a day for ten years.
be off + addictive substance
The toddler has gone off broccoli ever since he tried it at nursery.
go off + food (lost taste for it)
I think Sophie is off her ex-boyfriend now that she has met someone kinder.
be off + person (lost affection)
The doctor said Grandpa should stay off salty food until his blood pressure drops.
stay off + food (medical advice)
- go off
- be off
- come off
- stay off
Grammar Patterns
be off + noun (food / drug / activity)
go off + noun
Usage Note
Mostly used after 'be', 'go', 'stay', or 'come'. Object is something previously consumed, taken, or liked — food, drink, drugs, or sometimes a person. Common in British English; American speakers often say 'off of' or 'not into' instead.
Common Mistakes
4. very close to but not exactly on a road, coast, or main area — usually a short d
very close to but not exactly on a road, coast, or main area — usually a short distance to one side of it.
Their tiny bakery sits just off the main square in the old town.
just off + landmark
The fishing village lies a few kilometres off the southern coast of Taiwan.
off + coast (small distance from)
Dr. Tanaka's clinic is on a quiet lane right off Zhongshan Road.
right off + main road
Sailors spotted three small islands off the eastern shore at dawn.
off + shore (nautical)
Grandpa's farmhouse is set back off the highway, hidden behind tall pine trees.
set back off + road
- just off
- right off
- off the coast
- off the road
- off the main square
- on
directly on the road or main line itself
Grammar Patterns
just/right off + place noun
Usage Note
Often paired with 'just', 'right', or a measurement ('two miles off'). Works best with roads, coasts, squares, or other linear or large-area landmarks. Don't use for small objects or rooms.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- offsetnounC1
- offshootnounC2
- offstageadverbC1
- offhandadjectiveC1
- off-puttingadjectiveB2
- off-keyadjectiveC1
- payoffnounC1
- takeoffnounB1
- layoffnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adverb/1
All four words describe motion or position that creates distance, but the angle differs. 'Off' focuses on leaving a surface or contact point — you step off a kerb, lift a lid off, or peel a label off. 'Away' is the broadest of the group: it just means 'to or at a distance', with no surface implied — you walk away from a friend, look away, throw rubbish away. 'Apart' stresses separation between two or more things that were previously joined or close together — pull the pieces apart, live ten miles apart. 'Aside' suggests a small sideways move so something is out of the main path, often temporarily — step aside, set the issue aside for later. 'Out' usually means leaving an enclosed space — walk out of the room, take the keys out. So you step off the train, walk away from the station, pull two carriages apart, move aside to let people pass, and climb out of the carriage.
Common collocations
Nouns
- day off
- time off
- off-season
- off chance
- off limits
- off duty
- knock-off
- rip-off
Adverbs
- right off
- straight off
- well off
- badly off
- miles off
- way off
- completely off
Phrases
- off and on
- on and off
- off the top of one's head
- off the record
- off the beaten track
- off the hook
- better off
- right off the bat
- hands off
- off you go
Prepositions
- off of
- off from
- off to
- off at
- off into
- off on
Etymology
'Off' began life as the stressed pronunciation of Old English 'of', a preposition meaning 'away, from, out of'. For centuries the two were just spelling variants of one word. From around the early 1600s, English writers started using the spelling 'off' to mark the strong, motion-away meaning ('jump off the wall'), while keeping 'of' for the weak, unstressed senses of belonging and connection ('the lid of the box'). The original Old English root traces back to Proto-Germanic *aba and ultimately to a Proto-Indo-European root *apo- meaning 'away from', the same root behind Latin 'ab-' and Greek 'apo-'.