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away from a place or position, especially the present place, position, or time:
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He drove off at the most incredible speed.
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Keep the dog on the lead or he'll just run off.
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Someone ran off with (= took) my pen.
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She's off to Canada next week.
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I saw her off (= said goodbye) at the station.
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Finals are so far off that I'm not even thinking about them yet.
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UK I'm off now - see you tomorrow.
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UK If we can get off (= leave) early tomorrow morning we'll avoid most of the traffic.
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1
used with actions in which something is removed or removes itself from another thing:
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Take your jacket off.
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One of my buttons has come off.
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She had all her hair cut off.
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2
(especially of machines, electrical devices, lights, etc.) not operating because of not being switched on:
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Make sure the computers are all off before you go home.
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Turn/Switch the light/engine/television off.
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3
(of money) taken away from the original price:
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You can get some money off if you pay cash.
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There's 40 percent off this week on all winter coats.
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There was $40 or $50 off most jackets in the store.
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4
not at work; at home or on holiday:
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I'm going to take/have some time off to work on my house.
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She was off sick last week.
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He's off at the moment - can I get him to call you back?
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5
in such a way as to be separated:
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The police have shut/closed off all streets leading to the city.
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The area in the park where the kids play is fenced off for safety reasons.
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6
in such a way as to be completely absent, especially because of having been used or killed:
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It says on the bottle that it kills off all known germs.
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It'll take some time before she manages to pay off all her debts.
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The good thing about exercise is that it burns off calories.
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Between us we managed to finish off several bottles of wine.
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7
in such a way as to get rid of something:
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We went out for a while to walk off some of our dinner.
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He's gone to sleep off a headache.
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There's no point in getting upset about what he said - you just have to laugh it off.
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8
used to form nouns referring to a situation in which two or more people or teams compete against each other to see who is the winner:
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the BBC series, the Great British Bake Off
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Audience applause determines the winner of each dance-off.
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9
down or away from a place, position, or time, especially the present place, position, or time:
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There was a "Keep off the grass" sign.
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All the berries had dropped off the tree.
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He fell off his bike.
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We're still a long way off our target of $30,000.
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I hope she knows where to get off (= leave) the bus/train.
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How far off finishing the project are we? (= How much more is there to do?)
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UK We've been working on the flat for six months now but we're still a long way off finishing.
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UK We're not far off (= we are quite near) London now.
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10
used with actions in which something is removed or removes itself from another thing:
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I can't get the lid off this jar.
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Has anyone taken a book off my desk?
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Could you cut me a small piece off that big white cheese?
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Take your feet off that seat, young man!
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I don't like taking money off you (= asking you for money)!
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Get off me! (= Stop touching me!)
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not standard I got the knife off of him before he ran away.
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11
not liking or taking something or someone:
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He's been off his food ever since he had the stomach upset.
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She's well enough to be off the medicine now.
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She's been off drugs for a year now.
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UK The doctor says he can come off the tablets.
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UK I used to love coffee but I've gone off it (= stopped liking it) recently.
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12
near to:
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He lives just off the main road.
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It's an island off the east coast of Spain.
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13
(of an arranged event) stopped or given up:
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The wedding's off - she's decided she's too young to settle down.
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informal It's all off (= the relationship is over) between Kim and Mike.
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14
having a particular amount or number, especially of money:
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Andrew must be so well-off (= rich) by now.
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I think they're fairly badly-off (= poor) now that David has lost his job.
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UK I'm quite well off for (= have a lot of) sweaters.
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UK How are you off for money? (= do you have enough?)
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15
below the usual standard or rate:
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I'm having an off day today - I just can't seem to do anything right!
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16
(of food and drink) no longer fresh or good to eat or drink because of being too old:
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This milk smells off.
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I'd better eat this cheese before it goes off.
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(of food in a restaurant) not available at that particular time:
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I'm sorry, sir, the salmon is off.
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18
not thinking or worrying about other people's feelings; rude:
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He didn't even call her on her birthday - I thought that was a bit off.
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19
the act of leaving somewhere:
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Are we ready for the off, then?
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20
to kill someone:
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They offed him and dumped his body in the swamp.
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21
(esp. of a machine, electrical device, light, etc.) not operating because it is not switched on:
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Was the computer on or off when you left?
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Turn the engine off.
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22
not at work or school, esp. being at home or on vacation:
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I’m going to take a week off to work on my house.
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I’m off next week.
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The kids get off early from school today.
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She goes off duty at midnight.
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An off-duty police officer on his way home interrupted a crime in progress.
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23
below the usual standard or rate:
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Sales have been off this month.
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He’s a good tennis player but had an off day and lost in straight sets.
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They took 10% off (= below the usual price) because I paid in cash.
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24
(of an arranged event) stopped or given up in advance:
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Last night’s baseball game was called off because of rain.
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25
away from a place or position, esp. the present place or position:
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He drove off at high speed.
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She’s off to Canada next week.
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The sign says, "Keep off the grass."
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26
used with actions in which something is removed or removes itself from another thing:
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I think I’ll take my jacket off.
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I can’t get the lid off this jar.
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He fell off his bike.
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Did you leave the phone off the hook (= not put back in such a way that a call is ended)?
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27
far away in time or space:
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Graduation is still a long way off.
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That’s not the right answer, but you’re not far off.
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28
near to:
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The island is just off the coast of Florida.
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29
in such a way as to be taken away or removed, esp. because of having been used or killed:
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to pay off debts
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Exercise burns off fat.
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They were all killed off by disease.
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30
in such a way as to be separated:
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to mark off 10 feet
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The children’s play area is fenced off for safety reasons.
