put off — to delay or postpone something to a later time
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to delay or postpone something to a later time
Pronunciation (IPA): /pʊt ɔːf/
Example Sentences
- My mom put off buying a smartphone until she was 70, claiming she was 'too young' for such advanced technology.
- The candidate's habit of eating garlic bread before interviews really put off the employers.
- Don't put off saving for retirement - compound interest is your best friend.
put off
NOUN[/pʊt ɔːf/]
to delay or postpone something to a later time
He decided to put off the dentist appointment for another week.
Put off work, shut off lights, then power gets cut off!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrasal verb emerged in the 14th century from the combination of 'put' (from Old English 'puttan', meaning to place or set) and 'off' (from Old English 'of', meaning away or apart). Originally denoting the physical action of removing or setting aside, the meaning gradually extended to temporal postponement and psychological rejection or aversion.
Breakdown
put (to place, set down) + off (away, apart, at a distance). The preposition 'off' modifies 'put' to create a directional sense of removal or separation, which evolved metaphorically into postponement and discouragement.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom put off buying a smartphone until she was 70, claiming she was 'too young' for such advanced technology.”
“The candidate's habit of eating garlic bread before interviews really put off the employers.”
“Don't put off saving for retirement - compound interest is your best friend.”
“The chef was put off by customers who asked for ketchup with his gourmet steak.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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