Advanced English Grammar

Phrasal Verb OFF

Learning phrasal verb off (i.e., the preposition) is different from learning phrasal verbs from the verbs (like go or come).

We can use both go off and come off as well as get off, take off, stay off, etc., etc. You can think of these verbs with off as the opposite of phrasals with on.

Typically, verbs with 'off' are the opposite of 'on' as inplace. The planetook off means that it is no longeron the earth butin the sky.

They can also refer totime. For instance, when you are at work you areon the clock, and when you finish work, you areoff the clock.

Below are some phrasal verbs with off plus their definitions and some sample uses. Study the list and do the exercise below, then check your answers to see how you did.

BE OFF = A. go somewhere B. stop work

A. I'm off to the movies with Jed.
B. I'm off work in a couple of hours

CLEAR OFF = A. vacate or leave B. clean or remove

A. They cleared off before the SWAT team arrived.
B. Mari was told to clear off the table by her mother.

DROP OFF = A. Fall asleep B. Leave someone somewhere after a ride.

A. I dropped off for a few minutes while watching the movie last night.
B. Tine was dropped off at the library by her mother.

FIGHT OFF = defend or repulse

The army successfully fought off the enemy attack.

FRIGHTEN OFF = to cause an animal to leave by frightening it.

Steve frightened off the fox from the hen house.

GO OFF = A. explode B. become spoiled or rotten

A. The bomb went off precisely at 8:00 a.m..
B. "The milk in the fridge has gone off, can you please get some more?"

RUSH OFF = leave in a hurry

She rushed off to work without saying goodbye.

SCARE SME OFF = to cause a person to leave by frightening them.

He tried to scare off the other children by acting tough.

SET OFF = A. trigger accidentally. B. begin a journey.

A. The burglar was caught by setting off the silent alarm.
B. They set off in the morning to climb the mountain peak.

TAKE OFF = A. depart or be absent from work B. launch (with planes, rockets etc.) C. remove clothing

A. I won't be at work on Thursday, I'm taking the day off.
B. Watching the space shuttle take off was exciting.
C. "Take your coat off and stay a while," she said.

Phrasal Verb OFF exercise

1. I ___ off in the middle of the film and woke up at the end.
2. A plane ___ off or lands every two minutes at this airport.
3. The bomb ___ off just as we were passing the museum.
4. The President ___ off after his announcement, he didn't answer questions.
5. We ___ off for the mountain village at sunrise.
6. He had a difficult time ___ off his attacker.
7. "He said he ___ off to the store for some cigarettes."
8. If you're hot, you can ___ your sweater off.
9. He ___ off the racoon by throwing some rocks at it.
10. I used to ___ time off in July, now I take it in September..

For more information about phrasal verb off, click on the preceding link.

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Phrasal Verb OFF

Phrasal Verb OFF exercise