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Related to put off: put someone off
put (one) off (something)
1. To deter or repel one from something or from doing something. The sight of the blood put me off my food for the rest of the day. Please don't spread the news about the robbery. We don't want to put our guests off staying with us overnight.
2. To force one to get off or disembark from a vehicle or mode of transportation. Police officers put the man off the train after he began threatening other passengers. The passenger was put off the plane for being belligerent.
1. verb To deter, annoy, or repel. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "off." I don't know if you realize how much you put people off with your attitude. He has a knack for putting off his dates.
2. verb To delay doing or dealing with something; to procrastinate instead of doing something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "off." Why did I keep putting off working on this essay? Now I'll be up all night writing it. If you put off getting car insurance, you could wind up in jail if you get in an accident. I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner. I should never have put it off.
3. verb To delay meeting with or avoid dealing with someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "put" and "off." I'm sorry I've been putting you off lately; it's just been really hectic in work and at home. Has Helen said anything to you about me recently? I feel like she's putting me off.
4. adjective Deterred, annoyed, or repelled (by something). I could tell he was a bit put off by my comments. Please don't spread the news about the robbery. We don't want our guests put off at the idea of staying with us overnight.
put someone off (of) somethingand put someone off
to remove someone from a form of transportation, such as a train, ship, or airplane, owing to illness or misbehavior. (See also put someone off. Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The captain ordered that the unruly passengers be put off the ship at the next port. We put the thief off at the dock.
put someone off
1. to delay dealing with someone until a later time. I hate to keep putting you off, but we are not ready to deal with you yet. I had to put off the plumber again. He really wants his money.
2. to repel someone; to distress someone. You really put people off with your scowling face. You put off people with your arrogance.
3. to avoid or evade someone. I don't wish to see Mr. Brown now. Please put him off. I won't talk to reporters. Tell them something that will put them off. Put off those annoying people!
put something off
to postpone something; to schedule something for a later time. I have to put off our meeting until a later time. I put off a visit to the dentist as long as I could.
Delay or postpone, as in He always puts off paying his bills. This idiom, dating from the late 1300s, gave rise to the proverb Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, first recorded in the late 1300s (in Chaucer's Tale of Melibee) and repeated ever since. Also see put one off.
put one off
1. Repel or repulse someone, as in His bad manners put her off, or They were put off by the bad smell. [c. 1900]
2. put someone off. Persuade someone to delay further action, as in He put off the creditors, promising to pay next week, or They managed to put him off from suing. [Early 1600s]
1. To delay or postpone something: I always put off paying the bills and end up paying a late fee. If you keep putting your homework off, you won't get it done.
2. To persuade someone or something to postpone an activity: I managed to put off the creditors for another week. We succeeded in putting the meeting off until next week.
3. To cause someone to be offended, disgusted, and repelled: His indifferent attitude has put us off. Her arrogance put off the interviewers.
4. To discourage someone from doing something: The bad weather put us off from trying to climb the mountain.
5. To cause someone to be distracted from something and perform poorly: That athlete is sensitive, and too much crowd noise puts off his game. She throws the ball pretty well, but the pain in her arm put her aim off.