off

• Nicht in Betrieb, ausgeschaltet oder von einem Ort entfernt; zum Beispiel „die Lichter sind aus“.

Primarily an adverb or preposition, ‘off’ can function as an adjective meaning not operating, deactivated, or away from a place (e.g., ‘the lights are off’).

1. Not operating / turned offA1formal

   Not switched on; not in operation.

   Aus / nicht in Betrieb

   • The lights are off.
   • Please make sure the stove is off before you leave.
   • The computer went off after the power outage.

   Synonymedisconnectedinactiveout

   Antonymeactiveconnectedliveonoperationalpoweredrunningworking

2. Removed, away, distantA2informal

   Separate from or removed; not present at a place.

   Entfernt, abwesend

   • He was off on a business trip all week.
   • She’s off for the weekend, so we can’t meet today.
   • The cat went off to hide under the bed.

   Synonymeabsentawayelsewheregoneout

   Antonymeattachedonpresent

3. Not on the subject / irrelevantA2informal

   Deviating from the main topic; unrelated.

   Nicht zum Thema gehörend

   • Your comment is off‑topic for this discussion.
   • Sorry, I’m getting a bit off my point.
   • Let’s try to stay on track and not go off about unrelated issues.

   Synonymeextraneousimpertinentinappositeirrelevantunrelated

   Antonymeapplicablegermaneonpertinentrelevant

4. Spoiled, not fresh (food, drink)A2informal

   Having gone bad; unsuitable for consumption.

   Verdorben, nicht mehr frisch

   • The milk smells off; throw it away.
   • Those mushrooms look a bit off; I wouldn’t eat them.
   • He said the cheese tasted off after being left out.

   Synonymebadrancidrottensourspoiledstaleturned

   Antonymefreshgood

5. Inappropriate, offensive (slang)B2slangamerican

   Suggestive of something indecent, rude, or disturbing.

   Unangemessen, anstößig (Slang)

   • That joke was really off‑color.
   • She made an off comment that upset everyone.
   • The comedian’s off remarks got the audience’s attention for the wrong reasons.

   Synonymecrudedirtydisturbinginappropriateindecentlewdoffensiveraunchyrudevulgar

   Antonymeappropriatedecentproper

• Adverb, das eine Entfernung oder Trennung von einem Ort oder Zustand bezeichnet. In zusammengesetzten Verben zeigt es das Beenden, Abschalten oder Abbrechen einer Handlung an, z. B. „turn off“.

An adverb meaning 'away from a place or position', indicating separation, removal, or distance. It is also used in phrasal verbs to express cessation or cancellation, e.g., 'turn off'.

1. Not operating / turned offA1formal

   In a state of being switched off or not functioning.

   Aus / nicht in Betrieb

   • The lights are off.
   • Please make sure the computer is off before you leave.
   • The TV has been off all afternoon.

   Synonymedowninactiveout

   Antonymeactivefunctioningonoperationalrunning

2. Away from a surface or positionA1informal

   Moving away from or down from a place, surface, or position.

   Weg von einer Oberfläche oder Position

   • He jumped off the wall.
   • The cat leapt off the couch and ran outside.
   • She fell off the bike and scraped her knee.

   Synonymeasideawaydownout

   Antonymeononto

3. Begin a journey or activityA2informal

   To start moving, traveling, or beginning an action.

   Eine Reise oder Tätigkeit beginnen

   • They set off early in the morning.
   • We’ll set off for the mountains at dawn.
   • She set off on her career after graduation.

   Synonymeforthout

4. Cancelled / not happeningA2informal

   Used to say that an event or plan will not take place.

   Abgesagt / findet nicht statt

   • The meeting is off tomorrow.
   • The concert was off because of the storm.
   • Our dinner plans are off for now.

   Synonymecancelledscrubbed

   Antonymeon

5. Incorrect / not accurateB1slangamerican

   Used informally to indicate that something is wrong or not precise.

   Falsch / ungenau

   • Your estimate is a bit off.
   • The thermometer reads off by a few degrees.
   • His timing was off during the performance.

   Synonymeamissaskewerroneousfaultyflawedimpreciseinaccurateincorrectinexactmistakenwrong

• Präposition, die Bewegung weg von einer Oberfläche oder Position, Entfernung, Nähe zu einem Ort, Beendigung einer Nutzung oder Abzug von einer Summe ausdrückt.

A phrasal preposition used to indicate movement away from a surface or position, removal or separation from something, proximity to a location, cessation of use or consumption, or deduction from an amount.

1. Movement away from a surface or positionB1formal

   Used to indicate downward or outward movement from a place, position, or surface, often implying separation or distance in space or time.

   Von, weg von, herunter von

   • I fell off the ladder.
   • Keep off the grass!
   • He fell off his bike.
   • They were still 100 metres off the summit.

2. Removal or separation from somethingB1formal

   Used with actions in which something is removed, detached, or taken away from another object, surface, or person.

   Entfernung oder Trennung von etwas

   • You need to take the top off the bottle first!
   • I want about an inch off the back of my hair.
   • Has anyone taken a book off my desk?
   • Take your feet off that seat!

3. Proximity or location near to somethingB2formal

   Used to indicate that something is situated near, adjacent to, or leading away from a particular place, road, or area.

   Abseits von, nahe bei, seitlich von

   • We live off Main Street.
   • There's a bathroom off the main bedroom.
   • It's an island off the east coast of Spain.
   • He lives just off the main road.

4. No longer consuming, using, or liking somethingB2informal

   Used to indicate that someone has stopped eating, drinking, taking, or enjoying something they previously used or liked.

   Nicht mehr, los von, abgeneigt

   • I'm off alcohol for a week.
   • He's finally off drugs.
   • She's been off coffee since her pregnancy.
   • I've gone off seafood after I was sick.

5. Deduction or reduction from an amountB1formalbusiness

   Used to indicate that a sum of money, quantity, or value has been subtracted or discounted from an original total.

   Abzug, Rabatt, weniger

   • They knocked £500 off the car.
   • There's 40 percent off this week on all winter coats.
   • I'll knock £20 off if you pay by cash.
   • You can get some money off if you pay cash.

6. Source or origin (informal)B2informal

   Used informally to indicate the person, place, or thing from which something was obtained or received.

   Herkunft oder Quelle (informell)

   • I got this off a website somewhere.
   • I got it off my brother.
   • She heard the news off a friend.

• Umgangssprachliches Verb mit der Bedeutung, jemanden zu töten oder sich von jemandem/etwas zu befreien; auch ohne Objekt verwendet für Weggehen oder das Beenden einer Handlung.

A verb (mostly informal) meaning to kill or eliminate someone or something; also used intransitively to indicate departure or cessation.

1. Turn off / deactivateA1formal

   To cause a device, machine, or system to stop operating or to switch it to a non‑running state.

   Ausschalten / Deaktivieren

   • Please off the lights when you leave the room.
   • He offed his computer after finishing the work.
   • She forgot to off the stove and the kitchen filled with smoke.

   Synonymecutdeactivatedisablekillshut offswitch offturn off

   Antonymeactivateonstart

2. Kill (slang)B2slangbritish

   To kill or murder someone; often used in informal or criminal contexts.

   Töten (Jargon)

   • The hitman was hired to off the target.
   • In the movie the hero has to off the villain before he escapes.
   • The mobster ordered his men to off anyone who talked.

   Synonymebump offdispatchhiticerub outsmoketake outwastewhack

3. Cancel or abortB2informal

   To cancel, postpone or stop an event, appointment, or plan.

   Absagen oder abbrechen

   • We had to off the meeting because the presenter was sick.
   • The airline offed the flight due to bad weather.
   • She offed her dinner plans after getting a call from work.

   Synonymeabortaxecall offcanceldropnixscrapscrub

   Antonymearrangeconfirmplanschedule

4. Discount / reduce priceB1informalamericanbusiness

   To make a reduction in price; to mark something as cheaper.

   Preis senken

   • The store is off 20 % on all winter coats.
   • They offed the price after the product didn’t sell well.
   • You can off the subscription fee if you sign up for a year.