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put off

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phrasal verb [transitive]
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyput off
he/she/itputs off
present participleputting off
past tenseput off
past participleput off
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    to make someone not want to do something, or to make someone not like someone or something

    Lack of parking space was putting potential customers off.

    Robert's attitude towards women really puts me off.

    put someone off someone/something:

    I put him off the idea of going shopping with me.

    put someone off doing something:

    All this rain really puts you off going out after work.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off
  2. 2
    to delay doing something, especially because you do not want to do it

    I was trying to put off the moment when I would have to leave.

    You can't put the decision off any longer.

    put off doing something:

    He was glad to have an excuse to put off telling her the news.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off
  3. 3
    to change the time or date of something so that it happens later than originally planned, especially because of a problem

    They had to put the wedding off because the bride's mother had an accident.

    put off doing something:

    I'll put off going to Scotland until you're well enough to look after yourself again.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off
  4. 4
    to tell someone that you cannot see them or do something until a later time

    We'll have to put George off if your mother's coming on Thursday.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off
  5. 5
    to prevent someone from concentrating on something so that they have difficulty doing it

    Stop laughing – you'll put her off.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off
    1. a.
      put someone off their stride/stroke to stop someone from thinking clearly

      He was determined not to be put off his stroke by her presence.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off
  6. 6
    to switch off a machine or piece of equipment

    Please put off the television and do your homework.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of put off

This is the British English definition of put off. View American English definition of put off.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for put off.

 
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