Meaning
to postpone or delay something
Primary Function
Expressing delay or postponement
Communicative Purpose
To indicate that an action will happen later than originally planned
Pattern
put; off
Core Structure
put; off
Função primária
Expressing delay or postponement
Propósito comunicativo
To indicate that an action will happen later than originally planned
Situações de gatilho
When a task, meeting, or decision needs to be delayed; when avoiding immediate action
Contextos
Work meetings, academic deadlines, personal chores, scheduling
Padrão
put; off
Estrutura central
put; off
Slots de substituição
object noun phrase
Colocados típicos
- meeting
- deadline
- decision
- task
- trip
Substituições comuns
- postpone
- delay
Erros comuns
Incorrect inseparable use; misplacing object
Similar / contraste
put up with, put away
Interferências
Learners whose languages have non-separable equivalents may struggle with the separable nature of 'put off'
Família do chunk
- put off
- put up with
- put away
- put up
Nuance
Slightly informal; can soften a refusal or delay
Efeito pragmático
Signals postponement and can mitigate the bluntness of a refusal
Dica de memória
Delay it
Nota
The phrasal verb 'put off' is commonly used to express postponement or discouragement. It can be used in both everyday and professional contexts to reschedule events or to advise against being deterred by certain factors.
Upgrade path
postpone
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