put off

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to delay doing something or to postpone an event until a later time. It is often used when someone procrastinates on a task or when plans are rescheduled. It can also mean to make someone dislike something or lose enthusiasm for it.

Examples

• I've been putting off this dentist appointment for months, but I really need to go.

  I've been putting off this dentist appointment for months, but I really need to go.

• We had to put off the meeting until next Tuesday because the manager was sick.

  We had to put off the meeting until next Tuesday because the manager was sick.

• Don't put off writing your essay until the very last minute.

  Don't put off writing your essay until the very last minute.

• The smell of the restaurant completely put me off my food.

  The smell of the restaurant completely put me off my food.

• They decided to put off their wedding because of the bad weather forecast.

  They decided to put off their wedding because of the bad weather forecast.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We put off to go to the cinema.

  ✓ We put off going to the cinema.

  The phrasal verb 'put off' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive with 'to'.

• ✗ I have a lot of work, but I will put off it.

  ✓ I have a lot of work, but I will put it off.

  When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between the verb and the particle.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I can't ___ this conversation any longer; we need to talk today.

  💡 delay or postpone

  Show answer

  put off

• If you keep ___ your homework, you'll fail the class.

  💡 delaying

  Show answer

  putting off