give off
/ɡɪv ɒf/
Meaning
To 'give off' means to produce and send into the air something like a smell, heat, light, gas, or even a specific feeling or 'vibe.' It is an involuntary emission.
Examples
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The flowers give off a beautiful scent in the evening.
The flowers give off a beautiful scent in the evening.
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This old heater doesn't give off much warmth.
This old heater doesn't give off much warmth.
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The chemical reaction started to give off a strange green gas.
The chemical reaction started to give off a strange green gas.
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She gives off a very friendly and welcoming vibe.
She gives off a very friendly and welcoming vibe.
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Fireflies give off a soft glow in the dark.
Fireflies give off a soft glow in the dark.
Common Mistakes
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✗ The garbage gave off a bad smell to the room.
✓ The garbage gave off a bad smell in the room.
'Give off' describes emission, but we don't say it gives off 'to' a space. Use 'in' to describe where the emitted substance is.
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✗ He gave off a loud noise.
✓ He made a loud noise.
'Give off' is used for continuous, natural emissions (smells, heat, vibes, light), not sudden, intentional human actions like making a noise.
Related Expressions
Practice
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That cheese is starting to ___ a terrible smell.
💡 emit or release
Show answer
give off
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He doesn't talk much, but he seems to ___ a very confident vibe.
💡 project or emit a feeling
Show answer
give off