- To postpone or delay something until a later time or date.
- Can also mean to cause someone to dislike something or someone (His attitude really put me off.). This entry focuses on the 'postpone' meaning.
Explanation
Origin
- Dates back to the 16th century.
- Put means to place or move.
- Off here signifies postponement or distance in time (similar to 'ward off' or 'fend off').
- The idea is 'placing' the task or event 'off' into the future.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Push back (Common in business/scheduling)
- Kick the can down the road (Idiom: to avoid dealing with a problem now)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- (Usually relates to procrastination, not formal postponement): Stop fucking putting it off!
Milder/Standard:
- Adjourn (Formal, for meetings/courts)
- Suspend (To pause temporarily)
Situational Appropriateness
- Very common in informal and professional settings for rescheduling or delaying.
- Postpone or defer might sound slightly more formal but put off is widely acceptable.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Be aware of the second meaning: to cause dislike (The smell put me off my food). Context usually makes the intended meaning (postpone vs. cause aversion) clear. The object being put off (a task, meeting vs. a person, food) is a key indicator.
Examples
- I need to put off doing my taxes until next week.
- They decided to put off the meeting due to the storm.
- Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. (Proverb)
- He keeps putting off his dentist appointment.
Dialogue
Liam: Hey, about our meeting this afternoon... I need to put it off.
Sophia: Oh? Is everything okay?
Liam: Yeah, just swamped with another urgent deadline. Can we put it off until tomorrow morning?
Sophia: Sure, tomorrow morning works for me. Let's aim for 10 AM?
Liam: Perfect. Thanks for understanding.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Ugh, keep putting off my workout. Need some motivation! #procrastination #fitnessgoals
- Facebook Event Update: Hi everyone, due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to put off the picnic until next Saturday. Hope you can still make it!
- LinkedIn Post: Sometimes you have to put off less critical tasks to focus on high-priority goals. #productivity #timemanagement
Response Patterns
- Agreement/Acceptance: Okay, let's reschedule., Alright, when works instead?, No problem.
- Inquiry: Why do we need to put it off?, Until when?
- Disappointment/Reluctance: Oh, really? I was hoping to get it done., Are you sure we have to?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After suggesting putting something off:
- Explain the reason for the postponement.
- Propose a new time or date (Can we put it off until Thursday?).
- Discuss the implications of the delay.
After agreeing to put something off:
- Confirm the new schedule.
- Update calendars or inform others involved.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used when discussing schedules, tasks, or plans already in progress or known.
Intonation
- Stress usually falls on put, off, and the item being postponed.
- We have to PUT OFF the MEETING.
- Tone often reflects reluctance, necessity, or sometimes laziness (procrastination).
Generation Differences
- Used and understood by all generations. Push back is very common in corporate environments across various age groups.
Regional Variations
- Standard and common in all major English-speaking regions.