A plan can happen later than expected. This expression describes that delay.

The idea

Put off means postpone and is common in everyday and neutral English. Say put off the meeting or put the meeting off, but put it off. An action follows in the -ing form: put off painting.

Examples

  • We put off the picnic until Sunday.
  • The team put the meeting off.
  • We can put it off until tomorrow.
  • Please do not put off your appointment again.
  • Rain put off the match for a week.
  • They put off painting the kitchen.

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Watch out

Do not use to paint after this expression. Postponing an event does not necessarily cancel it.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Can we put ___ until Friday? (it off / off it)

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    it off

    it off: the pronoun comes between the verb and particle.

  2. Choose the correct option. They put off ___ the report. (writing / to write)

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    writing

    writing: the delayed action takes the -ing form.

  3. Choose the correct option. Yesterday the club ___ off the trip. (put / putted)

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    put

    put: its past form has the same spelling as its base form.

Use it today

Describe a plan you postponed and say when it will happen.