Put Off Phrasal Verb Meaning And Examples

Imagine you have a to-do list, and you decide to delay doing something on that list. That’s exactly what the “put off” phrasal verb means – it’s like hitting the snooze button on a task. Instead of saying, “I delayed doing my homework,” you can say, “I put off doing my homework.”

Let’s picture this: You’re all set to clean your room, but you’d rather play your favorite video game. You can tell your friend, “I put off cleaning my room to play my game.” See how easy that is?

Put Off Phrasal Verb Meaning

The “put off” phrasal verb has a versatile meaning that can be used in different contexts. It generally refers to the act of delaying or postponing something. Let’s break down put off phrasal verb meaning with examples.

Put Something Off: Put Off Phrasal Verb Meaning And Examples

When you “put something off,” you’re delaying or postponing a task, activity, or event to a later time.

Example 1: Jane was planning to clean her room, but she put it off until the weekend because she had a busy week at school.

Example 2: The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday, but they decided to put it off until Tuesday due to a scheduling conflict.

Example 3: David kept putting off fixing his bike, and now it’s in such bad shape that he can’t ride it at all.

In these examples, the ‘put off’ meaning is to delay or postpone an action or event.

Put Someone Off: Put Off Phrasal Verb Meaning And Examples

When you “put someone off,” you cause them to delay or reschedule their plans or actions.

Here are some examples that showcase the ‘put off’ meaning, which is to delay or reschedule someone’s plans or actions.

Example 1: Sarah’s unexpected phone call put me off my studying, so I had to stay up late to finish my assignment.

Example 2: The heavy traffic put them off arriving at the party on time, so they missed the cake cutting.

Example 3: Don’t let your friend’s negativity put you off pursuing your dream of becoming an artist.

In these examples, you can see how “put something off” is used when discussing tasks or activities being delayed, and “put someone off” is used when external factors or actions cause a delay or rescheduling. Both variations of the “put off” phrasal verb involve postponing or delaying something, but they focus on different aspects of the situation.

Put Off Phrasal Verb in Action

The “put off” phrasal verb is useful for expressing the idea of delaying or rescheduling, and you can use it in various situations to convey its meaning effectively.

Remember, the key is to delay or postpone something, usually because you want to do something else at that moment.

Studying for a Test: Let’s say you have a big science test coming up, but your favorite TV show is on. You might tell your teacher, “I put off studying for the test to watch my favorite show.” But don’t forget to hit the books afterward!
Chores at Home: Imagine you’re supposed to wash the dishes, but your best friend calls and wants to chat. You can tell your mom, “I put off washing the dishes to talk to my friend Mona.”
Meeting a Friend: You and your friend plan to meet at the park, but it starts raining. You might text them, “Alex, let’s put off meeting at the park until the rain stops.”

Using “Put Off” with Different Tenses

Don’t be puzzled if you see this phrase in different forms. It’s versatile and can work with different tenses. Let’s break it down:

Past Tense: Yesterday, I put off mowing the lawn to play soccer. [The past form of the verb “put” is put]
Present Tense: I’m putting off doing my chores to read this amazing book.
Future Tense: I will put off cleaning my room until after the party.

10 Put Off Phrasal Verb Example Sentences

Here are 10 example sentences that showcase the meaning of the “put off” phrasal verb:

I had to put off cleaning my room because I got caught up in a thrilling book.
They decided to put off their hiking trip due to the sudden rainstorm.
She tends to put off doing her math homework until her mom reminds her.
Let’s put off our picnic until the sun comes out and the weather improves.
He often puts off going to the dentist because he’s afraid of the chair.
We can’t put off practicing for the concert any longer; it’s just a week away.
The company had to put off the meeting until the CEO returns from a business trip.
Don’t put off buying your train tickets; they might sell out quickly.
Despite feeling tired, she didn’t want to put off exercising, so she went for a run.
They decided to put off making a decision until they had more information about the situation.

Synonyms for “Put Off” Phrasal Verb

You can boost your English vocabulary and expand your word bank with synonyms for “put off.” Here are a few to get you started:

Delay
Postpone
Procrastinate
Hold off
Defer

“Put Off” Phrasal Verb Challenge!

Let’s put your knowledge of the “put off” phrasal verb to the test! Once you’ve completed the exercises, take a moment to review your answers and see how well you’ve mastered the “put off” phrasal verb.

Remember, the “put off” phrasal verb is all about delaying or postponing something to a later time or date. But don’t put off practicing this cool phrase! The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become in using it.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the “put off” phrasal verb. Choose the right tense based on the context.

I __________ cleaning my room to play my favorite game.
They decided to __________ their picnic because of the bad weather.
She usually __________ her homework until the last minute.
We should __________ our meeting until everyone arrives.
He promised not to __________ doing his chores again.

Exercise 2: Synonym Switch-Up

Time to get synonym savvy! Replace the “put off” phrasal verb with one of its synonyms in each sentence. Make sure the sentence still makes sense!

I put off my dentist appointment to attend the family gathering.
They decided to put off the project presentation due to technical difficulties.
She usually puts off cleaning her room until the weekend.
We should put off our vacation plans until the travel restrictions are lifted.
He promised not to put off submitting his report again.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Adventures

Imagine different scenarios where you would use the “put off” phrasal verb. Write a short sentence or two for each scenario. Feel free to get creative and make up your own situations!

You have a soccer match, but your friends invite you to a movie.
Your family plans a picnic, but you have a school project to finish.
You’re supposed to practice the guitar, but your favorite TV show is on.
Your friend wants to go shopping, but you have to study for a test.

Answer Keys