Preposition – “Off”
Preposition “Off”
The preposition off has various meanings and can be used in different contexts.
Here are examples:
Away from a starting point or position:
She ran off in the opposite direction.
He drove off as soon as the light turned green.
Disconnected or turned off
(referring to machines or devices):
Please turn off your phone during the movie.
The computer is currently off, so I can’t check my email.
Not operating or functioning properly:
The alarm system is off; we should have it checked.
The heating is off in the building today.
To indicate a reduction or subtraction:
Take 20% off the original price during the sale.
If you take 5 off 10, you’ll have 5 left.
To express a break or cessation of an action:
She called off the meeting due to bad weather.
Let’s call off the search; we’ve found what we were looking for.
To indicate a state of being free or released:
The bird flew off into the sky.
He jumped off the diving board into the pool.
To indicate a state of no longer being involved or part of something:
She’s off the team due to injury.
He’s off the project because of his conflicting schedule.
To express the source or origin of something:
The information came off the internet.
These ingredients are fresh off the farm.
To describe a sudden change in a particular state or condition and position:
Condition:
The weather went from sunny to stormy all of a sudden, catching us off guard.
His mood switched off from cheerful to upset after the news.
Position:
He carefully lifted the lid off the box.
She slid the book off the shelf.
State:
The alarm system is off; we should have it checked.
Is the oven off, or is it still on?
These are just a few examples of the various meanings and uses of the preposition off in different contexts.
Preposition off for movement:
Here are some examples of how the preposition off and its opposite, on, can be used to indicate movement or position:
Off Examples:
She stepped off the bus and onto the sidewalk.
Take the book off the shelf and hand it to me.
The cat jumped off the table and onto the floor.
Please get off the phone; we need to talk.
I took my jacket off when I entered the warm building.
On Examples:
He placed the cup on the saucer.
The keys are on the kitchen counter.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
Can you put the groceries on the table, please?
I found your hat on the chair in the living room.
In these examples, off indicates movement away from a place or position, while on indicates placement or contact with a surface or location.
Preposition off with the meaning a detached or missing part of an object:
When describing an object and using the preposition off to indicate that a part is missing from the whole, you can use it like this:
A piece of the puzzle has come off the edge.
The wheel fell off the bicycle.
She bit a small piece off a cake.
In these examples, off is used to indicate that a part of the object has become detached or is missing from the whole object.
Off as an adverb:
When off is used as an adverb with most verbs to indicate the action of removing or leaving a place or position, it often denotes a sense of separation or departure.
Here are some examples:
She peeled the sticker off .
Please brush the crumbs off.
He carefully lifted the lid off .
They pulled the curtains off to let in more light.
She slid the ring off and placed it in the jewelry box.
I peeled the label off to see what was inside.
He took the hat off and hung it on the hook.
In these examples, off is used as an adverb to describe the action of removing or leaving a particular place or position in relation to various verbs.
Preposition off in word expressions:
Here are explanations and examples of expressions with off:
Be off:
Meaning: When someone is off, it means they are not at work or not available.
Example: She’s off today, so you can’t reach her at the office.
Get off:
Meaning: To disembark or leave a vehicle, such as a bus, train, or plane.
Example: We’ll get off the train at the next station.
Put off:
Meaning: To delay or postpone an event, task, or meeting to a later time.
Example: They had to put off the meeting until next week due to scheduling conflicts.
Take off:
Meaning: To remove something, such as clothing or an object, from a surface or oneself.
Example: She took off her jacket when she entered the warm house.
Set off:
Meaning: To start a journey or trip, or to trigger something, like an alarm or an explosion.
Example: They set off early in the morning for their road trip.
Example: The fireworks set off a beautiful display in the night sky.
Pay off:
Meaning: To yield positive results or achieve success, often after a period of effort or investment.
Example: Their hard work and dedication finally paid off when they won the championship.
Brush off:
Meaning: To dismiss or ignore something or someone casually or without much consideration.
Example: She brushed off his comments and continued with her work.
Show off:
Meaning: To display one’s skills, abilities, or possessions, often in a boastful or prideful manner.
Example: He likes to show off his new car to everyone.
Run off:
Meaning: To leave a place quickly, often in a hurry or to escape from a situation.
Example: She had to run off to catch her flight.
Rip off:
Meaning: To overcharge or deceive someone by selling something at an unreasonably high price or providing poor quality.
Example: I felt like I was ripped off when I paid so much for that meal.
Back off:
Meaning: To retreat or move away from a situation or confrontational position.
Example: He told them to back off and give him some space.
Write off:
Meaning: To consider something as a loss or failure, especially in financial or accounting terms.
Example: The company had to write off a significant portion of its debt.
These expressions provide additional ways off is used in various contexts to convey different meanings and actions.