English Phrasal Verbs With “Off”
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English, and those with “off” are particularly common. They often imply separation, departure, or completion. Below is a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs with “off,” their meanings, and examples to help English learners understand and use them effectively.
1. Call Off
Meaning: To cancel something that was planned.
- They had to call off the meeting due to bad weather.
- The concert was called off because the singer fell ill.
- We should call off the picnic if it rains tomorrow.
2. Put Off
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
- She put off her dentist appointment until next week.
- Don’t put off your homework until the last minute.
- He keeps putting off cleaning his room.
3. Take Off
Meaning: To remove something (like clothing) or to leave the ground (for aircraft).
- Please take off your shoes before entering the house.
- The plane will take off in 10 minutes.
- He took off his jacket because it was too hot.
4. Show Off
Meaning: To display something proudly, often to impress others.
- He loves to show off his new car to his friends.
- She showed off her dance moves at the party.
- Stop showing off—we know you’re good at math!
5. Pay Off
Meaning: To finish paying a debt or to yield good results.
- They finally paid off their mortgage after 20 years.
- All her hard work paid off when she got the promotion.
- It took years to pay off his student loans.
6. Go Off
Meaning: To explode, make a sudden noise, or stop working (for alarms or devices).
- The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night.
- The bomb went off without warning.
- My phone went off during the movie—so embarrassing!
7. Break Off
Meaning: To separate or end something abruptly.
- She broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.
- They broke off their engagement after a big argument.
- The branch broke off the tree during the storm.
8. Set Off
Meaning: To start a journey or to cause something to happen.
- We set off early in the morning to avoid traffic.
- His comment set off a heated debate.
- The fireworks set off a loud noise in the neighborhood.
9. Turn Off
Meaning: To stop a device or to cause dislike.
- Please turn off the lights before leaving.
- His rude behavior turned me off.
- She turned off the TV and went to bed.
10. Write Off
Meaning: To consider something as a loss or to cancel a debt.
- The insurance company wrote off the damaged car.
- He wrote off his bad experience and moved on.
- The bank agreed to write off part of the loan.
Exercises
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with “off” by completing the following exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct phrasal verb from the list below to complete each sentence.
- call off, put off, take off, show off, pay off
- They decided to _____ the wedding because of financial problems.
- She always _____ her new clothes to her friends.
- After years of hard work, his efforts finally _____.
- Please _____ your hat when you enter the building.
- Don’t _____ studying for the exam until the last minute.
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb to Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Break off | A. To cancel |
| 2. Go off | B. To remove |
| 3. Turn off | C. To separate suddenly |
| 4. Call off | D. To stop a device |
| 5. Take off | E. To explode or make noise |
Exercise 3: Create Sentences
Write a sentence using each of the following phrasal verbs:
- set off
- write off
- show off
- pay off
- put off