go off — to explode or make a loud sudden noise
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to explode or make a loud sudden noise
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡoʊ ɔːf/
Example Sentences
- My alarm went off at 6 AM, but I went off to dreamland again
- The milk went off faster than my motivation on Monday morning
- When the fire alarm went off, everyone went off in different directions
go off
VERB[/ɡoʊ ɔːf/]
to explode or make a loud sudden noise

to explode or make a loud sudden noise

Sipping something soft, fighting a cough, when fireworks go off!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrasal verb 'go off' derives from Old English 'gān' (to move, travel) combined with 'of' (away from). The basic sense of 'moving away' expanded to encompass various meanings including departure, malfunction, and alarm activation.
Breakdown
go (Old English 'gān': to move, proceed) + off (Old English 'of': away from, separated). The combination originally expressed movement away from a location, later extending to figurative senses of activation or deterioration.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My alarm went off at 6 AM, but I went off to dreamland again”
“The milk went off faster than my motivation on Monday morning”
“When the fire alarm went off, everyone went off in different directions”
“The power went off just as I was about to save my homework”
📚Related Words
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