put off

phrasal verb·3 senses·particle off

Meanings

1

Delay or postpone

Stopping

Why “off”? A continuous line is snipped. The activity stops.

“Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
Don't postpone to tomorrow what could just as easily be done today.
“She put off the dentist visit for weeks.”
She postponed the dentist visit for weeks.
“Stop putting off the dentist appointment.”
Stop postponing your dentist appointment and just book it.
2

Discourage or repel

Defence

Why “off”? Something unwanted is pushed away so it does not affect you.

“The smell put me off my food.”
The smell killed my appetite and stopped me eating.
“The rude waiter put us off the cafe.”
The rude waiter made us not want to visit the cafe.
“Don't let one bad review put you off the book.”
Don't let one negative review discourage you from reading the book.
3

Postpone to another time

Stopping
“We had to put off the meeting.”
We had to postpone the meeting until a later time.
“They put off the vote until Tuesday.”
They postponed the vote until Tuesday.

Don't confuse with

put offput on

Put off means delay or postpone. Put on means clothe oneself.

put offput aside

Put off means delay or postpone. Put aside means save for a specific purpose.

Test yourself

“Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

put aside

A contrast learners often mix up

Save for a specific purpose; Ignore or set a feeling aside

put on

A contrast learners often mix up

Dress yourself in clothing; Host or stage an event; Gain weight; Apply onto a surface; Cause a device to start running; Pretend to feel or be something

back off

Same off pattern: stopping

Move away from someone or something, often in retreat; Stop pressuring or interfering with someone; Withdraw from a previous position or commitment

blow off

Same off pattern: stopping

Be removed by force, especially wind; Cancel plans or fail to meet someone deliberately; Release strong feelings, especially anger; Remove dust or particles by blowing air on them

break off

Same off pattern: stopping

End a relationship, talk or activity suddenly; Detach a piece from something larger by breaking; End diplomatic, business or personal contact; Take a short pause from an activity

brush off

Same off pattern: defence

Dismiss something or someone as unimportant; Remove dust or dirt by sweeping it lightly; Refuse to talk to someone politely

buy off

Same off pattern: stopping

Bribe someone to stop opposing you

call off

Same off pattern: stopping

Cancel a planned event

Tell it apart

Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “put off”.

put off vs put on

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