Off Meaning
Off Definition & Usage
Indicates the position or movement away from a surface, location, or source of energy.
Examples
- "She jumped off the wall and ran towards the street."
- "Please turn the lights off before you leave."
- "The cat leapt off the counter in surprise."
- "He took his jacket off and hung it on the coat rack."
- "The alarm went off in the middle of the night."
Describes a state of not being active, operational, or engaged.
Examples
- "The machine is off right now, so we can fix it."
- "She looked off in the distance, lost in thought."
- "My phone's battery is off because I forgot to charge it."
- "The event was called off due to bad weather."
- "The internet connection seems to be off today."
To stop or interrupt an activity, event, or function.
Examples
- "He was told to off the game for being too loud."
- "The teacher asked the students to off their phones during class."
- "They decided to off the meeting because of the power outage."
- "She offed the music and went to bed."
- "The chef offed the stove after cooking dinner."
Cultural Context
The word 'off' has been a part of English since Old English, with its meanings evolving over time. Initially, it referred to a separation or distance, but its usage has expanded significantly, especially in modern contexts.
The Midnight Escape
Story
The Midnight Escape
At the stroke of midnight, Ethan and Clara stood by the old iron gate of the abandoned mansion, staring at the eerie glow coming from inside. 'Are you sure we should do this?' Clara whispered, glancing nervously at the shadows inside the house. Ethan nodded, reaching for the door handle. 'It’s now or never,' he said, pushing the door open. The light in the hallway flickered on, and as they stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind them, turning the light off. They paused, their breaths quickening. 'It’s too quiet in here,' Clara muttered, but Ethan was already ahead, moving toward the staircase. He quickly glanced around, flicking the light switch, but it remained off. 'The power must be off,' he said, frowning. Clara took a deep breath. 'We need to finish this before anything else goes off track.' Ethan continued onward, stopping in front of a dusty painting. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the house, and Clara jumped back. 'What was that?' she gasped. Ethan didn't answer; instead, he quickly offed his phone's flashlight, realizing that it was drawing attention. They had to move quickly, or their escape would be off for good.
