put off
يؤجل
Literalmente: To place something away or at a distance
Use 'put off' when you are delaying a task or meeting until a later date or time.
En 15 segundos
- 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.
Significado
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.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 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.
Contexto cultural
The phrase has been used since the 16th century to describe delaying actions. In modern Western culture, it is often associated with the struggle of work-life balance and the habit of procrastination. It is a staple phrase in office humor and relatable social media memes about avoiding adult responsibilities.
The 'It' Rule
Always say `put it off`, never `put off it`. It sounds much more natural to native ears.
The Double Meaning
Be careful! If you say 'He puts me off,' it might mean you find him unattractive or annoying, not that you are delaying him.
En 15 segundos
- 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.
Notas de uso
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 'It' Rule
Always say `put it off`, never `put off it`. It sounds much more natural to native ears.
The Double Meaning
Be careful! If you say 'He puts me off,' it might mean you find him unattractive or annoying, not that you are delaying him.
Procrastination Nation
English speakers often use this phrase to apologize. Saying 'Sorry, I've been putting this off' is a very common way to admit you were lazy.
Ejemplos
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.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct way to say you are delaying the task.
I have too much work today, so I need to ___ the meeting.
'Put off' is the specific phrasal verb used for delaying time-based events.
Complete the sentence using the correct pronoun placement.
That's a difficult phone call. Don't ___ any longer.
When using a pronoun like 'it', it must go between 'put' and 'off'.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Formality of Delaying
Used with friends or family.
Let's put it off.
Standard for work and daily life.
We need to put off the meeting.
Used in legal or academic writing.
The hearing was postponed.
When to say 'Put Off'
Doctor Visit
Putting off the check-up.
Social Life
Putting off a date.
Chores
Putting off the dishes.
Work
Putting off a deadline.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt simply means to delay something or move it to a later time, like saying I'll do it later.
Yes, they mean the same thing, but put off is much more common in speaking, while postpone is used in formal announcements.
If you mean delaying a meeting with them, yes. If you mean you don't like them, He puts me off means he makes you feel uncomfortable.
Use the '-ing' form of the verb after it. For example: He put off doing his homework.
Yes, it is perfectly fine for neutral business emails, such as Can we put off the call until 3 PM?
You could say bring forward if you want to do something earlier than planned.
No, that is turn off or switch off. Put off is strictly about time or repulsion.
No, it is a standard phrasal verb used by everyone from students to CEOs.
In that context, it means the smell makes you lose your appetite or interest in something.
No, the past tense of 'put' is still 'put'. So you would say I put off the task yesterday.
Frases relacionadas
Hold off
To wait before doing something.
Push back
To delay an event or deadline (very common in offices).
Procrastinate
The formal verb for delaying things out of laziness.
Call off
To cancel something entirely (don't confuse this with put off!).
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