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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
💡 Concept

to explode or make a loud sudden noise

Sipping something soft, fighting a cough, when fireworks go off!
🎵 Rhyme

Sipping something soft, fighting a cough, when fireworks go off!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɡoʊ ɔːf/
🇬🇧 UK/ɡəʊ ɒf/

🌳Etymology

Rootgo
Suffix-off

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

scoff
cough
soft

🔗Collocations

alarm went off
bomb went off
lights went off
go off duty
food went off
go off the rails

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My alarm went off at 6 AM, but I went off to dreamland again”

😄 Fun example

“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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