WHAT DOES PUT OFF MEAN? A DEFINITIVE GUIDE

Are you wondering, “What does ‘put off’ mean?”  That has several meanings, and we’ll explain everything you need to know!

If you’re in the process of learning English, perhaps you will agree that you can use a word or phrase that can express a variety of meanings. There are thousands of word combinations in the English vocabulary that can easily confuse beginners. In this post, we’ll shed some light on one particular phrasal verb – put off. What does “put off” mean?

Keep on reading, and you’ll learn a lot about what does put off means, including the concepts of procrastination, rescheduling, discouragement, off-putting behavior, avoidance, hesitation, reluctance, and indecisiveness.

What Does the Expression Put Off Mean?

“Put off” is an English phrasal verb with many different usages and meanings. Phrasal verbs are a combination of words, usually a verb and a preposition, that express actions. In general, they appear in informal texts and in spoken English. Aside from put off, other common examples in English are “come across,” “turn down,” “get up,” “go through,” “write down,” “take after,” and “run into.”

Here are six definitions of the phrasal verb “put off:” Take note of the examples, and you will find out what each form means.

1. To delay doing a particular action, primarily because the subject does not want to do it, or there are still hesitations or reluctance.

Examples:

• The refugees will do everything to put off the moment when they have to leave the camp.
• The judge can’t put off the decision any longer.
• They put off the press because the mayor is not yet ready to admit his guilt.
• My 8-year old son keeps putting off going to the dentist.
• I put the wedding off because I am not sure of my feelings anymore.

2. To change the date or time of something so that it takes place later than initially planned

Examples:

• We decided to put the wedding off because my father had an accident.
• I’ll put off resigning from my job until the trainee is well enough to take care of the tasks.
• Alfred had to put off the launch because the public still needs to approve the product.
• Let’s put off the party until your sister feels well.
• Put off the meeting. The boss had an emergency.
• The game was put off because of the storm.

3. To tell someone you cannot see or meet them at this time

Examples:

• We must put James off if your father is coming on Friday.
• I’ll have to put you off until I am ready to talk to you.
• Let’s put off our date until I feel better.
• Put off from going here in the meantime. My mother is intensely displeased with your attitude.
• Putting our dinner date off because of my hectic schedule is something he didn’t understand.

4. To distract someone from concentrating or doing something

Examples:

• The light in the room put me off from sleep.
• The professor will not be put off his discussion by the noise outside.
• Don’t put me off by your nonsense arguments.
• I’m older and wiser than you. You can’t just put me off by a lame excuse.
• I won’t be put off by your empty promises and sweet words.

5. To stop a moving bus, car, etc. and let someone get out of it 

Examples:

• The driver will put you off at the train station.
• The tourist said to the porter:  “Put me off at the first stop.”
• I’ll put you off immediately when we get through this tunnel.
• The train took an emergency stop, and the guards assisted in putting off passengers.
• The workers put off from the quay.

6. To stop someone from liking or wanting to do something, the feeling of distaste

Examples:

• The lack of security was putting prospective shoppers off.
• John’s attitude toward his parents really puts me off.
• The arrogant manager is putting off employees from respecting him.
• We planned to go camping, but we were put off by reports of heavy rains.
• His physical appearance put me off, but then it turns out he has a heart of gold.

7. To emit, to give out

Examples:

• My laptop put off so much heat it burned my lap.
• The oven puts off uneven heat.

What are the synonyms of put off?

In English vocabulary, a synonym is a word with the same or similar meaning as another word or phrase.

One–word synonyms of put off

Confuse, circumvent, dishearten, disconcert, defer, duck, dodge, evade, elude, hedge, postpone, flurry, remit, shelve, sidestep, confuse, prorogue

Phrasal verb synonyms of put off

Out of, put on, put out, turn off, come out, cut off, get out of, keep out of, run out of, out of doors, out of place, out of control, put down, put away, out of order, out of sight, out of the question

Of course, when it comes to learning English, you shouldn’t settle with finding synonyms only. English teachers and tutors also recommend you find out the antonym of the word or the phrase to enhance your skills and vocabulary. In English vocabulary, an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning as the other word or phrase.

Antonyms of the phrasal verb “put off”

Accomplish, continue, achieve, sustain, persist, convene, remain, execute, revive, accept, proceed, support, persevere, progress, complete, implement, sustain, include, execute, promote, succeed, do, encourage, forward, hasten, maintain, hurry, further, go, open, forge, finish, begin, help, persuade, bring forward, carry out, move forward, re-establish, make earlier, go ahead with, call to order

A brief history of the phrasal verb put off

It might come as a surprise to know that the term “put off” existed since the 1700s, not only in verbal English but also in classical literature. Perhaps you’re familiar with the proverb, “Don’t put for tomorrow what you can do  today.” It means that if you have the time to finish something today, don’t delay it because you might find yourself in a complicated situation in the long run.

English practice: What does put off mean in anecdotes?

Here’s an interesting anecdote. What does “put off” mean?”

Mark put off his meeting again because he had car trouble. The engine of his car kept putting off heat, and Mark barely made it to his office. For weeks now, his car had been making him miss important meetings, and worrying about it put him off his work. Every time it happened, Mark would say that he would have his car fixed, but kept putting it off. Then one day, Mark’s wife passed out, and as he rushed to take her to the hospital his car broke down. What do you think happened next?

Answer:

Mark delayed his meeting again because he had car trouble. The engine of his car kept overheating, and Mark barely made it to his office. For weeks now, his car had been making him miss important meetings, and worrying about it distracted him from work. Every time it happened, Mark would say that he would have his car fixed, but he never did. Then one day, Mark’s wife passed out, and as he rushed to take her to the hospital his car broke down, and they got stranded.

Remember, developing a comprehensive understanding of phrasal verbs like “put off” is crucial for improving your English skills. By exploring the different meanings within relevant contexts, you can enhance your vocabulary and communication abilities. We hope this definitive guide has clarified the question, “What does put off mean?”

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