stop off

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to make a brief visit or stop at a place while you are on your way somewhere else. It is commonly used when traveling or during a daily commute to describe running a quick errand or visiting a landmark along the route. The tone is casual and practical.

Examples

• We can stop off at a gas station to buy some snacks.

  We can stop off at a gas station to buy some snacks.

• On our way to Boston, we decided to stop off in Providence for lunch.

  On our way to Boston, we decided to stop off in Providence for lunch.

• I need to stop off at the dry cleaner's on my way home from work.

  I need to stop off at the dry cleaner's on my way home from work.

• Let's stop off at the supermarket; we're completely out of milk.

  Let's stop off at the supermarket; we're completely out of milk.

• They stopped off in Paris for two days before flying back to New York.

  They stopped off in Paris for two days before flying back to New York.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I stopped off to the bank.

  ✓ I stopped off at the bank.

  Use the preposition 'at' (for a specific place) or 'in' (for a city/town) after 'stop off', not 'to'.

• ✗ We stopped off the road.

  ✓ We stopped off at a rest stop.

  'Stop off' means making a destination visit along a route; 'stopped off the road' sounds like pulling the car over physically.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Let's ___ at the bakery and grab some fresh bread.

  💡 Make a quick visit on our way.

  Show answer

  stop off

• We ___ in Chicago for a night before continuing our road trip.

  💡 Made a brief visit (past tense).

  Show answer

  stopped off