phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

put off

to postpone an event

What it means

To postpone something to a later time, or to make someone lose interest or feel discouraged. It is separable in both senses, and which meaning is intended is usually clear from context.

Examples

  • We had to put off the meeting until Monday because of the storm.
  • Stop putting it off — just send the email and get it over with.
  • The smell of fish completely puts me off eating sushi.
  • His rude manner put off most of the customers in the shop.

Where it comes from

Used in both senses since the 1500s. 'Put off' literally meant to push something away from you, which evolved naturally into both delaying an event and pushing away another person's interest or appetite.

Related phrasal verbs

#call off#set aside#turn down#hold up

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