Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to intend; to plan; to design; to aim
narrow
apparel
purpose
abide
TOEIC practice test: Online word games: Free Verb Noun Adjective Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

meaning of "go off"



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
What does "as it were" mean? | 'in the streets' vs 'on the streets'
Message Author
meaning of "go off" Sun Dec 16, 2007 13:51 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

Hi,

I came upon this meaning of "go off":
Quote:
go off
begin to dislike
Eg: She went off him when he started smoking

Do you find it natural ? I'm up the creek on this one Smile

Thanks !
_________________
Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)
lost_soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1808
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

meaning of "go off" Sun Dec 16, 2007 14:02 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

Hi LS,

'Go off' someone suggests that you have seen what that person is really like and as a result you no longer like them as in: 'When I discovered that X had accepted a huge fee for his services on the show and it was meant to be in aid of charity, I went right off him.'

It's also an expression often used lightheartedly when someone asks you to do something for them, which they could easily do by themselves, and in a joking way you say: Yes OK I'll help you but you can go off people you know!

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Your Choice
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 7378
Location: UK

English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Want to learn about the future tenses? Read this story and smileLearn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English course
meaning of "go off" Sun Dec 16, 2007 14:25 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

Thank you very much, Alan !
_________________
Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)
lost_soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1808
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:05 am  meaning of "go off"
 

I don't think we have that usage of "go off" in North America. Alan's last sentence "...but you can go off people you know!" was not understandable to me. I can't figure out what it means.

In North America we have the expression "to go off on someone", which means you explode into sudden rage at the person and either start shouting at him or beating him. We can say that a professor lost patience with a student and went off on him. I suppose it's an analogy to a bomb exploding, because bombs also go off.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:11 am  meaning of "go off"
 

I don't think I've ever heard that expression in this neck of the North American woods either.
If it were used in the northeastern US, it might be easily misunderstood (i.e. misinterpreted as "go off on").

Better be careful when talking about what is and isn't used in "North America", though, Jamie. Some forum members don't seem to like it and may go off on you. Wink
.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:05 am  meaning of "go off"
 

Hi,

Quote:
Alan's last sentence "...but you can go off people you know!" was not understandable to me. I can't figure out what it means.

It's said in a mildly sarcastic way suggesting that you'll do something but inwardly you're indicating that the other person is really asking a lot of you and in a sense 'pushhing their luck'.

Hope that clarifies somewhat.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A day in the life of a parliamentary candidate
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 7378
Location: UK

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 13:58 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

Hi Alan

From your first explanation, the meaning of the British expression "go off (somebody)" isn't particularly similar to the expression "go off on (somebody)" used in AmE. Your second definition of "go off" doesn't sound like the same meaning as "go off on" either. Can you also "go off something" in BE (i.e. "stop liking something")?
.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 14:15 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

Hi, Amy

It dawned upon me !! The textbook (about phrasal verbs) I am working on at the moment is of a British origin and therefore some of the case studies (such as "lay on and go off") are unfamiliar to you but familiar to Alan Smile.

BTW, do you say only "go off on somebody", or you can also say "go off at somebody" ?
_________________
Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)
lost_soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1808
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 14:20 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

Ah HA! That explains it, then. Laughing

Yes, you can also "go off at somebody" (in AmE, anyway).
.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 14:22 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

lost_soul wrote:
BTW, do you say only "go off on somebody", or you can also say "go off at somebody" ?

I'm not absolutely positive, but I think if you went off at somebody, it would mean your fury was verbal only. If you go off on somebody, it could be verbal, physical or a combination of the two.

However, I could be having a hallucination just because you suggested the preposition at.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

meaning of "go off" Mon Dec 17, 2007 14:33 pm  meaning of "go off"
 

I would tend to agree with that hallucination, Jamie. Laughing
(I mean, I agree that "go off at" would most likely be strictly verbal.)
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: USA

Display posts from previous:   
What does "as it were" mean? | 'in the streets' vs 'on the streets'
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms meaning of "go off" All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
'an other' or 'another'usage of "go through with"Passive or Active Voice?set up or put up a Christmas tree?similar expressions to 'you kill me''learn' or 'study'why is it correct? 'if you would like to...'hot English tips 3the usage of the verb 'judge'?as you're likely to finddifference between continual and continuous, extend and expandrather than, except for, in addtion to, inspite of?a question about an essayDo you think the sentence is wrong?Not or no? (If the weather is fine, I'll wash my clothes. If...)Present perfect and present perfect progressive'go on' v.s. 'come on' and meaning of 'lay on'forming a questionmeaning of "go off"

Discover English-test.net
What is the difference between "job" and "work"?Simple past + past continuous'A year earlier' could be 'Earlier than any given date'Cannot open thread "Another think coming"Difference between "may be" and "would be"TOEIC test: Vocabulary Words: English Adjectives Verbs NounsTOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Adjective Verb Noun GameDefine total, exclude, allowance, colleague, background, hiddenWord vocabulary: Nouns adjectives verbs worksheetFree EFL Quiz Online: Modal MedleyEnglish articles: Electronic Commerce

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course written by Alan Townend
First name E-mail