see someone off

Meaning

To see someone off means to go to a departure point, such as an airport, train station, or bus stop, to say goodbye to them before they begin a journey. It is a warm, supportive gesture that shows you care about the traveler. Because it is a separable phrasal verb, the person being seen off usually goes between 'see' and 'off'.

Examples

• My parents came to the airport to see me off.

  My parents came to the airport to see me off.

• We all went to the train station to see Sarah off on her big trip.

  We all went to the train station to see Sarah off on her big trip.

• Are you going to see him off tomorrow morning, or will you say goodbye tonight?

  Are you going to see him off tomorrow morning, or will you say goodbye tonight?

• I'd love to see you off, but I have to work at nine.

  I'd love to see you off, but I have to work at nine.

• They stood on the platform waving as they saw their son off.

  They stood on the platform waving as they saw their son off.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I went to the airport to see off my friend.

  ✓ I went to the airport to see my friend off.

  While 'see off my friend' is occasionally heard, native speakers almost always place the pronoun or short noun phrase between 'see' and 'off'.

• ✗ I will see my sister to the airport.

  ✓ I will see my sister off at the airport.

  'See someone to [a place]' means to accompany them to ensure they arrive safely. To say goodbye for a trip, use 'see someone off at [a place]'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They went to the harbor to ___ on the cruise ship.

  💡 Go to say goodbye as he departs.

  Show answer

  see him off

• Don't worry about driving to the station; you don't have to ___.

  💡 Accompany me to say goodbye.

  Show answer

  see me off