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 the put off phrasal verb meaning with examples.

Put Something Off: 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: Meaning and Examples

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

Example 1: 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!

Example 2: 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.”

Example 3: 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 cleaning my room to watch a movie.
• Last week, they put off their meeting due to a sudden power outage.
• She put off her vacation plans because her boss asked her to stay for an important project.
• We put off our picnic when we saw the weather forecast predicting rain.
• He put off going to the gym because he was feeling too tired.
• Jane put off her doctor’s appointment because she was too busy at work.
• The team put off their presentation due to technical difficulties.
• I put off studying for my exam until the night before.
• They put off the construction project because they needed additional permits.[The past form of the verb “put” is put]

Present Tense:

• I’m putting off cleaning my room because I want to watch TV.
• She’s putting off writing her report because she’s too tired.
• He’s putting off asking his boss for a raise because he’s nervous.
• They’re putting off their vacation plans due to budget constraints.
• We’re putting off going to the gym because it’s raining.
• I’m putting off calling my parents because I’m busy with work.
• She’s putting off her dentist appointment because she’s scared.
• He’s putting off starting his diet until after the holidays.
• They’re putting off their meeting because not everyone is available.
• We’re putting off our project deadline to ensure it’s done correctly.

Future Tense:

• I will put off cleaning my room until after the party.
• They will put off their vacation plans until next year.
• She will put off making a decision until she has more information.
• We will put off our meeting until everyone arrives.
• He will put off seeing the doctor until his schedule clears up.
• The company will put off launching the new product until the market is ready.
• Jane will put off her homework until she feels better.
• The team will put off the presentation until the projector is fixed.
• The committee will put off voting on the proposal until they have a quorum.
• Tom will put off calling his parents until he finishes his project.

10 Put Off Phrasal Verb Example Sentences

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

1. I had to put off cleaning my room because I got caught up in a thrilling book.
2. They decided to put off their hiking trip due to the sudden rainstorm.
3. She tends to put off doing her math homework until her mom reminds her.
4. Let’s put off our picnic until the sun comes out and the weather improves.
5. He often puts off going to the dentist because he’s afraid of the chair.
6. We can’t put off practicing for the concert any longer; it’s just a week away.
7. The company had to put off the meeting until the CEO returns from a business trip.
8. Don’t put off buying your train tickets; they might sell out quickly.
9. Despite feeling tired, she didn’t want to put off exercising, so she went for a run.
10. 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 : 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 : 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 : 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

Exercise : Fill in the Blanks

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

Exercise : Synonym Switch-Up

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

Expanding Your Understanding with More Examples

To solidify your understanding of the “put off” phrasal verb, let’s look at even more examples in different contexts:

In Daily Life

Example 1: Tom planned to start his diet today, but he put it off until tomorrow because he was craving pizza.

Example 2: Megan was going to visit her grandmother, but she put it off due to a sudden work emergency.

At Work

Example 1: The team had to put off the project deadline because they were waiting for client feedback.

Example 2: Due to budget cuts, the company decided to put off the annual team-building event.

In Education

Example 1: The professor put off the exam by a week to give students more time to study.

Example 2: John put off writing his essay until the night before it was due.

Social Situations

Example 1: We planned to have a reunion this weekend, but we had to put it off because many people couldn’t make it.

Example 2: I wanted to ask her out, but I put it off because I was too nervous.

Exploring the Impact of “Put Off”

Understanding the various contexts and implications of the “put off” phrasal verb can help you use it more effectively in your daily communication. Let’s dive deeper into its usage in different scenarios.

Emotional Impact

Sometimes, putting off tasks can lead to stress and anxiety. For example:

Example: Jane felt overwhelmed because she had put off studying for her exams until the last minute, and now she was under immense pressure to catch up.

Professional Impact

In a professional setting, consistently putting off tasks can affect productivity and reputation:

Example: Mike’s habit of putting off important meetings made his colleagues frustrated, and they started doubting his reliability.

Personal Growth

Understanding and overcoming the tendency to put off tasks can lead to personal growth and improved time management skills:

Example: Sara realized that putting off her goals was holding her back, so she decided to take small steps each day to achieve them.

FAQs

What does “put off” mean?

“Put off” means to delay or postpone something to a later time. For example, if you put off doing your homework, you are choosing to do it later.

Can “put off” be used for people as well as tasks?

Yes, “put off” can be used for both tasks and people. When you put off a task, you delay doing it. When you put someone off, you cause them to delay their plans or actions.

How do you use “put off” in a sentence?

You can use “put off” to talk about delaying something. For example: “I will put off my meeting until tomorrow.”

What are some synonyms for “put off”?

Some synonyms for “put off” are delay, postpone, procrastinate, hold off, and defer. These words can be used interchangeably in many contexts.

Can “put off” be used in different tenses?

Yes, “put off” can be used in different tenses. For example: “I put off cleaning yesterday” (past), “I am putting off cleaning now” (present), and “I will put off cleaning tomorrow” (future).

Conclusion

The “put off” phrasal verb is a valuable addition to your vocabulary, helping you express the concept of delaying or postponing tasks and activities in various contexts. By mastering this phrase, you can communicate more effectively and understand the nuances of procrastination in everyday life.