The prepositions on and off have different meanings. The prepositions on and off in different meanings What is off in English

The prepositions on and off have different meanings.  The prepositions on and off in different meanings What is off in English

    Off-label use- is the practice of prescribing pharmaceuticals for an unapproved indication or in an unapproved age group, unapproved dose or unapproved form of administration. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation... ... Wikipedia

    off- [ɔf] adj. inv. et adv. 1944; de l angl. off screen «hors de l écran» ♦ English. 1 ♦ Adj. Cin., telev. Qui n est pas sur l écran, n est pas lié à l image; hors champ (opposé à in). Le narrateur est off. Une voix off commente la scène. Adv. En... Encyclopédie Universelle

    Off- (f; 115), adv. 194. See (Of).] In a general sense, denoting from or away from; as: 1. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off. f; 115), adv. 194. See (Of).] In a general sense, denoting from or away from; as: 1. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off... The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

    Off the Ground- Studio album by Paul McCartney Released 1 February 1993 … Wikipedia

    Off-Off Campus- is an improvisational and sketch comedy group at the University of Chicago, and the second oldest collegiate group of its kind in the United States. It was founded in 1986 by The Second City co founder Bernie Sahlins, who is also an alumnus … Wikipedia

    Off the Wall (album)- Off the Wall Studio album by Michael Jackson Released August 10, 1979 ... Wikipedia

    Studio album by Paul McCartney Release date February 1, 1993 Recorded November 1991 July 1992 Genres rock Duration 50:25 P ... Wikipedia

    off- off1 [ôf, äf] adv.

  • 1. so as to be or keep away, at a distance, to a side, etc.
  • 2. so as to be measured, divided, etc.
  • 1. (of a switch) having the positions "on" and "off" : an …
    ON-OFF — ˌon-ˈoff BrE AmE adjective 1 . happening sometimes and not at other times: an on-off relationship She …
  • ON-OFF — adjective COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an on-off relationship (= happening sometimes and not at other times) ▪ Their on-off …
    Oxford Collocations English Dictionary
  • ON-OFF (technical) two-position
  • ON-OFF
  • ON-OFF - on-off, two-position - on-off action - on-off control - on-off keying - on-off modulation - on-off switch
  • ON OFF - (a) two-position
    English-Russian Lingvistika"98 dictionary
  • ON-OFF - a tech. two-position (about switch, etc.)
    New large English-Russian dictionary - Apresyan, Mednikova
  • ON-OFF - a tech. two-position (about switch, etc.)
  • ON/OFF
    English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and production automation 2
  • ON/OFF - “on - off” (on a device with two locking positions)
    English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and production automation
  • ON-OFF - (working) according to the “on-off” principle, relay
    English-Russian dictionary on computers
  • ON-OFF - (working) according to the “on-off” principle, relay
    English-Russian Dictionary of Computer Science and Programming
  • ON-OFF - (working) according to the “on-off” principle, relay
    English-Russian Dictionary of Computer Terms
  • ON-OFF - relay, two-position
    English-Russian dictionary on telecommunications
  • ON/OFF - two-position
    Modern English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and production automation
  • ON-OFF - two-position adj on/off
    English-Russian WinCept Glass dictionary
  • ON-OFF
  • ON OFF - on off
    New large English-Russian dictionary

  • Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary
  • OFF
    Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary
  • — I. (|)ōn, (|)än, in the southeastern US sometimes (|)ōn preposition Etymology: Middle English, preposition & adverb, fr Old English an, …
  • OFF
    Webster's New International English Dictionary
  • OFF - /awf, of/, adv. 1. so as to be no longer supported or attached: This button is about to come …
    Random House Webster's Unabridged English Dictionary
  • OFF — I. ˈȯf adverb Etymology: Middle English of, from Old English — more at of Date: before 12th century 1. a. ...
    Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary
  • OFF — adv denoting opposition or negation. 2. off·interj away; begone; a command to depart. 3. off ·adv in a …
    Webster English vocab
  • OFF - / ɒf; NAmE ɔːf; ɑːf/ adverb, preposition, adjective, noun, verb ■ adverb HELP NOTE: For …
    Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary
  • — I. on 1 S1 W1 /ɒn $ ɑːn, ɒːn/ BrE AmE preposition [Language: Old English] 1 . ON...
    Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
  • OFF - I. off 1 S1 W1 /ɒf $ ɒːf/ BrE AmE adverb, preposition, adjective 1. away from a...
    Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
  • OFF - adv., prep., adj., & n. --adv. 1 away; at or to a distance (drove off; is three miles off). 2...
    English Basic Spoken Dictionary
  • OFF - adv., prep., adj., & n. adv. 1 away; at or to a distance (drove off; is three miles off). 2...
    Concise Oxford English Dictionary
  • OFF - adv., prep., adj., & n. --adv. 1. away; at or to a distance (drove off; is three miles off). 2...
    Oxford English vocab
  • - The preposition is pronounced /ɒn/. The adverb and the adjective are pronounced /ɒn/. Frequency: The word is one of the …
  • OFF - The preposition is pronounced /ɒf, AM ɔ:f/. The adverb is pronounced /ɒf, AM ɔ:f/ Frequency: The word is one of …
    Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary
  • OFF - adj. sup off sup off or up back off blow off bring off buck off bug off bump off burn …
    Collegiate Thesaurus English vocab
  • — 1. sentence 1) a) in a spatial sense indicates being on the surface of something. subject, on smth. on a house on…
    Large English-Russian Dictionary
  • OFF - 1. adv. 1) indicates distance, removal from something. He had to be off. ≈ He needed to leave. to...
    Large English-Russian Dictionary
  • - on.ogg 1. ɒn a 1. close, internal the on side - closer (to the interlocutor, viewer, etc. ...
    English-Russian-English dictionary of general vocabulary - Collection of the best dictionaries
  • OFF
    English-Russian-English dictionary of general vocabulary - Collection of the best dictionaries
  • OFF - 1) minor 2) turned off 3) distant 4) further away 5) insignificant 6) low-grade 7) disconnected 8) free. cast off the mooring rope - give away the mooring end cut off a ...
    English-Russian scientific and technical dictionary
  • - 1. ɒn a 1. close, internal the on side - closer (to the interlocutor, viewer, etc.) ...
    Large new English-Russian dictionary
  • OFF - 1. ɒf n 1. “off” position (for devices, switches, etc.) to be set at off - …
    Large new English-Russian dictionary
  • OFF - 1. adv. 1) indicates distance, removal from something. He had to be off. - He needed to leave. to...
    English-Russian dictionary of general vocabulary
  • OFF - 1. adv. 1) indicates distance, removal from something. He had to be off. - He needed to leave. to march off — …
    English-Russian dictionary of general vocabulary

Translation and meaning of ON-OFF in English and Russian languages

transcription, transcription: [͵ɒnʹɒf]

two-position (about switch, etc.)

English-Russian-English dictionary of general vocabulary, a collection of the best dictionaries. English-Russian-English dictionary of general lexis, the collection of the best dictionaries. 2012

  • English-Russian-English vocabularies
  • English-Russian-English dictionary of general lexis, the collection of the best dictionaries

More meanings of the word and translation of ON-OFF from English into Russian in English-Russian dictionaries and from Russian into English in Russian-English dictionaries.

More meanings of this word and English-Russian, Russian-English translations for the word “ON-OFF” in dictionaries.

  • ON OFF — in operation/not in operation (of a button which activates or deactivates an electrical appliance)
    Explanatory Dictionary of the English Language - Editorial bed
  • ON-OFF — on-off BrE AmE ˌɒn ˈɒf ◂ -ˈɔːf ◂ AmE \ ˌɑːn ˈɔːf ◂ ˌɔːn-, -ˈɑːf ◂
    Longman Pronunciation English Dictionary
  • ON-OFF — adjective [ only before noun ] 1. (of a switch) having the positions "on" and "off" : an …
  • 1. so as to be or keep away, at a distance, to a side, etc.
  • 2. so as to be measured, divided, etc.
  • 1. (of a switch) having the positions "on" and "off" : an …
    ON-OFF — ˌon-ˈoff BrE AmE adjective 1 . happening sometimes and not at other times: an on-off relationship She …
  • ON-OFF — adjective COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an on-off relationship (= happening sometimes and not at other times) ▪ Their on-off …
    Oxford Collocations English Dictionary
  • ON OFF - on off
  • ON-OFF (technical) two-position
    Large English-Russian Dictionary
  • ON-OFF - on-off, two-position - on-off action - on-off control - on-off keying - on-off modulation - on-off switch
  • ON OFF - (a) two-position
    English-Russian Lingvistika"98 dictionary
  • ON-OFF
    New large English-Russian dictionary - Apresyan, Mednikova
  • ON-OFF - a tech. two-position (about switch, etc.)
  • ON/OFF
    English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and production automation 2
  • ON/OFF - “on - off” (on a device with two locking positions)
    English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and production automation
  • ON-OFF - (working) according to the “on-off” principle, relay
    English-Russian dictionary on computers
  • ON-OFF - (working) according to the “on-off” principle, relay
    English-Russian Dictionary of Computer Science and Programming
  • ON-OFF - (working) according to the “on-off” principle, relay
    English-Russian Dictionary of Computer Terms
  • ON-OFF - relay, two-position
    English-Russian dictionary on telecommunications
  • ON/OFF - two-position
    Modern English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and production automation
  • ON-OFF - two-position adj on/off
    English-Russian WinCept Glass dictionary
  • ON-OFF
  • ON OFF - on off
    New large English-Russian dictionary

  • Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary
  • OFF
    Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary
  • — I. (|)ōn, (|)än, in the southeastern US sometimes (|)ōn preposition Etymology: Middle English, preposition & adverb, fr Old English an, …
  • OFF
    Webster's New International English Dictionary
  • OFF - /awf, of/, adv. 1. so as to be no longer supported or attached: This button is about to come …
    Random House Webster's Unabridged English Dictionary
  • OFF — I. ˈȯf adverb Etymology: Middle English of, from Old English — more at of Date: before 12th century 1. a. ...
    Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary
  • OFF — adv denoting opposition or negation. 2. off·interj away; begone; a command to depart. 3. off ·adv in a …
    Webster English vocab
  • OFF - / ɒf; NAmE ɔːf; ɑːf/ adverb, preposition, adjective, noun, verb ■ adverb HELP NOTE: For …
    Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary
  • — I. on 1 S1 W1 /ɒn $ ɑːn, ɒːn/ BrE AmE preposition [Language: Old English] 1 . ON...
    Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
  • OFF - I. off 1 S1 W1 /ɒf $ ɒːf/ BrE AmE adverb, preposition, adjective 1. away from a...
    Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
  • OFF - adv., prep., adj., & n. --adv. 1 away; at or to a distance (drove off; is three miles off). 2...
    English Basic Spoken Dictionary
  • OFF - adv., prep., adj., & n. adv. 1 away; at or to a distance (drove off; is three miles off). 2...
    Concise Oxford English Dictionary
  • OFF - adv., prep., adj., & n. --adv. 1. away; at or to a distance (drove off; is three miles off). 2...
    Oxford English vocab
  • - The preposition is pronounced /ɒn/. The adverb and the adjective are pronounced /ɒn/. Frequency: The word is one of the …
  • OFF - The preposition is pronounced /ɒf, AM ɔ:f/. The adverb is pronounced /ɒf, AM ɔ:f/ Frequency: The word is one of …
    Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary
  • OFF - adj. sup off sup off or up back off blow off bring off buck off bug off bump off burn …
    Collegiate Thesaurus English vocab
  • — 1. sentence 1) a) in a spatial sense indicates being on the surface of something. subject, on smth. on a house on…
    Large English-Russian Dictionary
  • OFF - 1. adv. 1) indicates distance, removal from something. He had to be off. ≈ He needed to leave. to...
    Large English-Russian Dictionary
  • - on.ogg 1. ɒn a 1. close, internal the on side - closer (to the interlocutor, viewer, etc. ...
  • OFF
    English-Russian-English dictionary of general vocabulary - Collection of the best dictionaries
  • OFF - 1) minor 2) turned off 3) distant 4) further away 5) insignificant 6) low-grade 7) disconnected 8) free. cast off the mooring rope - give away the mooring end cut off a ...
    English-Russian scientific and technical dictionary
  • - 1. ɒn a 1. close, internal the on side - closer (to the interlocutor, viewer, etc.) ...
    Large new English-Russian dictionary
  • OFF - 1. ɒf n 1. “off” position (for devices, switches, etc.) to be set at off - …
    Large new English-Russian dictionary
  • OFF - 1. adv. 1) indicates distance, removal from something. He had to be off. - He needed to leave. to...
    English-Russian dictionary of general vocabulary

I am convinced that knowledge of any language lies in the nuances: the general rules are known and understandable to everyone, but not everyone is familiar with the subtleties. I also never tire of repeating that, unfortunately, textbooks (even the most modern ones) focus mainly on general rules, and misses many details of the language that you should know about.

There are many “little words” in English: prepositions, adverbs that we encounter everywhere, but we subconsciously ignore them and think little about their properties and meanings, seeing only the general. But these “small” elements can significantly change the meanings of not only the words with which they are combined, but also entire sentences.

But it can be very difficult to understand what they mean, even with the help of a dictionary, and then we begin to think and guess. You can’t figure it out without context, but sometimes it’s completely useless if you don’t understand the properties and meanings of “little words.”

But there is also good news.
On the ENGINFORM blog, I regularly talk about how prepositions and adverbs are used in English, show how to highlight common features and patterns, and provide explanations and examples.

Today we will talk about the word off.

Off as a preposition and as an adverb is used after verbs, giving them other shades of meaning, is part of many phrasal verbs (some of which I will give in examples), and maybe a separate adjective. Let's talk about all this in order.

Think about it: how often have you come across the word off in English? In what contexts?

Remember: on electrical appliances they write ON/OFF, you've probably heard the combinations day off and to log off, there is even an insect repellent called Off.

How is it all connected?

The word off has a number of typical meanings, and in each of the above situations, off will be translated completely differently. Let's look at these meanings and draw parallels with Russian where possible.

The first common meaning of off is transfer, removal, removal from the surface. Off indicates that the objects are no longer touching each other:

Brush the dirt off the coat - brush the dirt off the coat
Wash off the stains - wash away stains
Knock something off - knock down something or someone
Take the books off the desk. - Remove the books from the table.

Off indicates a change in position, often a sideways, downward, or outward movement:

The cup slipped off my hands. - The cup slipped out of my hands.
I like traveling off the beaten track. - I like to travel away from the main road.
Get off the bus - get off the bus
Get off the plane - get out of the plane
I'm off. - I'm leaving.
I logged off my computer. - I logged out of my computer.

Off speaks of distance, removal, distance, and in this sense is often used with verbs of movement:

The light will frighten the burglars off. - The light will scare away robbers.
He walked off the room. - He left the room.
Stand off the fire. - Stay away from the fire.
The lovers ran off together. - The lovers ran away together.
She tried to keep off a subject. - She tried to avoid the topic.

Off is often the equivalent of our prefixes from- and time-, which, combined with various verbs, indicate separation, separation:

Divide off the room by a glass wall - divide the room with a glass wall
Fence off the garden - fence off the garden with a fence
Cut off the dry branches of a tree - cut off dry branches of a tree

If we are talking about electrical appliances, then off speaks of disconnecting, turning off, stopping:

Switch off the radio, please. - Turn off the radio, please.
He turned off the TV. - He turned off the TV.
I was cut off electricity. - My electricity was turned off.

Another meaning of the word off is completion, termination, cancellation:

Did you read off the book? -Have you finished reading the book yet?
Drink off your tea. - Finish your tea.
The urgent call broke off the meeting. - An urgent call interrupted the meeting.
I used to like tennis but now I am off it. - I used to like tennis, but not now.
You should remain off smoking until you get better. - You need to refrain from smoking until you feel better.

And sometimes the word off appears in a sentence and it is completely unclear what its meaning is. For example: It is off or He is off. What does it mean?

The fact is that off is not only a preposition or adverb that is combined with verbs, but also, and therefore can be used with the verb to be. The meaning of off will be determined by the context. If you only have a sentence separate from the whole situation, you will never know what exactly was meant.

The meanings of the adjective off mostly carry negative connotations. Let's look at some of them:

About states: poor quality, worse than usual; something unsatisfactory:

I had an off day. - I had a bad day.
He felt off after the party. - He felt unwell after the party.

About food: missing, stale, poor quality:

This milk is a bit off. - The milk has spoiled a little.
The food has gone off. - The food is gone.

About the time: non-working, day off:

A day off - day off
I will take a Monday off. - I'll take a day off on Monday.
The off season - dead, non-tourist season

About objects and devices: inoperative:

My computer is off. - My computer is turned off.
The TV is off. - The TV is turned off.

Many combinations with off cannot be found in the dictionary. When meeting them, use your knowledge and logic and determine what off expresses in this context: separation, removal, or maybe a change in position?
Be careful, watch the little words and move forward to improve your English every day.



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