In 15 Sekunden
- To delay an event or task until a later time.
- Commonly used when procrastinating or rescheduling appointments.
- Can also mean feeling repelled or disgusted by something.
Bedeutung
To 'put off' something means you decide to do it later instead of doing it now. It is that feeling of delaying a task because you are busy or just don't feel like doing it yet.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Texting a friend about dinner
I'm so tired, can we put off our dinner until Friday?
I'm so tired, can we delay our dinner until Friday?
In a professional office meeting
We should put off the decision until we have more data.
We should delay the decision until we have more data.
Talking about a scary chore
I've been putting off going to the dentist for months.
I've been delaying going to the dentist for months.
Kultureller Hintergrund
British people often use 'put off' as a polite way to decline an invitation without saying 'no' directly. 'Let's put that off until we have more time' often means 'I don't want to do this.' In US corporate culture, 'putting off' a task is often discussed in the context of 'procrastination' and 'time management' seminars. It is seen as a hurdle to overcome for success. In Japan, putting off a meeting is often done with great apology and formal language (Enki), as punctuality and reliability are highly valued in social harmony (Wa). The term 'procrastination' is often synonymous with 'putting off' tasks by scrolling on social media. This is a universal modern experience shared across cultures.
The Gerund Rule
Always follow 'put off' with an -ing verb. It's one of the most common mistakes on English exams!
Don't Cancel!
If you tell a friend you are 'putting off' a meeting, they will expect you to suggest a new time. If you don't want to meet at all, use 'call off'.
In 15 Sekunden
- To delay an event or task until a later time.
- Commonly used when procrastinating or rescheduling appointments.
- Can also mean feeling repelled or disgusted by something.
What It Means
Put off is all about delay. It is the classic move of moving a task from 'today' to 'someday.' You might do it because you are overwhelmed. Or maybe you are just avoiding something boring. It is a very common way to talk about procrastination.
How To Use It
This is a phrasal verb. You can put the object in the middle or at the end. You can say put off the meeting or put the meeting off. If you use a pronoun like it, you must put it in the middle: put it off. Use it when you change a schedule or delay a chore.
When To Use It
Use it for doctor appointments you are scared of. Use it for that pile of laundry on your chair. It works great for business meetings that get rescheduled. It is perfect for texting a friend when you are too tired to hang out. It feels very natural in everyday conversation.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for permanent cancellations. If the event is never happening, say cancel. Also, be careful in very high-level legal documents. In those cases, postpone or defer sounds more professional. Don't use it for moving physical objects; it is for time and events.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, people often joke about being 'procrastinators.' We use put off to bond over our shared laziness. There is a famous saying: 'Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.' Most of us ignore that advice and put off our taxes anyway! It reflects a busy, sometimes overwhelmed modern lifestyle.
Common Variations
If someone is put off by something, it means they find it disgusting or annoying. This is a different meaning! For example, 'I was put off by the smell of the fish.' Also, procrastinate is the fancy, academic version of put off. Stick to put off for your daily chats.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly versatile and fits almost any situation from casual to professional. Just remember the 'pronoun in the middle' rule to sound like a pro.
The Gerund Rule
Always follow 'put off' with an -ing verb. It's one of the most common mistakes on English exams!
Don't Cancel!
If you tell a friend you are 'putting off' a meeting, they will expect you to suggest a new time. If you don't want to meet at all, use 'call off'.
The 'It' Rule
Always say 'put it off'. Saying 'put off it' is a major red flag that you are a learner.
Polite Rejection
In the UK, 'putting off' can be a gentle way to say 'no'. Pay attention to the tone!
Beispiele
6I'm so tired, can we put off our dinner until Friday?
I'm so tired, can we delay our dinner until Friday?
Very common for casual social rescheduling.
We should put off the decision until we have more data.
We should delay the decision until we have more data.
Sounds professional but remains easy to understand.
I've been putting off going to the dentist for months.
I've been delaying going to the dentist for months.
Shows a continuous habit of avoidance.
I'm a pro at putting off my laundry until I have nothing to wear.
I'm an expert at delaying my laundry until I have no clothes.
Self-deprecating humor about procrastination.
They had to put off the wedding because of the hurricane.
They had to delay the wedding because of the hurricane.
Used for significant life events being rescheduled.
Don't put it off; just finish the essay now!
Don't delay it; just finish the essay now!
Using 'it' in the middle of the phrasal verb.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'put off'.
I really need to stop _______ my dental check-up.
After the verb 'stop' and when using 'put off' as a gerund, 'putting off' is the correct form.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct sentence regarding the pronoun 'it'.
In phrasal verbs, pronouns must go between the verb and the particle.
Match the sense of 'put off' to the situation.
Situation: 'The smell of the old milk made me not want to eat my cereal.'
In this context, 'put off' means the smell made you lose your appetite.
Fill in the missing words in the dialogue.
A: Why are you still here? B: I'm ____ ____ my workout because I'm feeling lazy.
'Putting off' fits the context of delaying a workout due to laziness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Put Off vs. Call Off
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenI really need to stop _______ my dental check-up.
After the verb 'stop' and when using 'put off' as a gerund, 'putting off' is the correct form.
Choose the correct sentence regarding the pronoun 'it'.
In phrasal verbs, pronouns must go between the verb and the particle.
Situation: 'The smell of the old milk made me not want to eat my cereal.'
In this context, 'put off' means the smell made you lose your appetite.
A: Why are you still here? B: I'm ____ ____ my workout because I'm feeling lazy.
'Putting off' fits the context of delaying a workout due to laziness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business email. For very formal documents, use 'postpone'.
No, 'put' is irregular. The past tense is 'I put off'.
It's an adjective meaning unpleasant or discouraging. 'His behavior was very off-putting.'
In some very old dialects, yes, but in modern English, we say 'turn off' or 'switch off'.
'Delay' is often used for things outside your control (e.g., 'The flight was delayed'). 'Put off' usually implies a choice.
Yes, 'to put someone off' means to distract them or make them wait. 'He put me off with a vague answer.'
You can say 'put off from doing something', but 'put off doing something' is more common.
Usually, yes, as it involves a delay or a feeling of dislike, but it can be neutral in scheduling.
Use 'be put off'. For example: 'I was put off by the price.'
No, use 'put out the fire'.
Yes, it is very common in all varieties of English.
There isn't a single phrasal verb, but 'bring forward' (to move to an earlier time) is the closest opposite.
Verwandte Redewendungen
call off
contrastTo cancel something completely.
hold off
similarTo wait before doing something.
push back
synonymTo delay a scheduled event.
off-putting
builds onUnpleasant or discouraging.
procrastinate
synonymTo delay tasks habitually.
