| A |
On and off for lights, machines etc.
We say:
the light is on / put the light on / leave the light on etc.
turn the light on/off or switch the light on/off
- Shall I leave the lights on or turn them off?
- 'Is the heating on?' 'No, I switched it off.'
- We need some boiling water, so I'll put the kettle on.
Also put on some music / a CD etc.
- I haven't listened to this CD yet. Shall I put it on? (= shall I play it)
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| B |
On and off for events etc.
go on = happen
- What's all that noise? What's going on? (= what's happening)
call something off = cancel it
- The open air concert had to be called off because of the weather.
put something off, put off doing something = delay it
- The wedding has been put off until January.
- We can't put off making a decision. We have to decide now.
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| C |
On and off for clothes etc.
put on clothes, glasses, make-up, a seat belt etc.
- My hands were cold, so I put my gloves on.
Also put on weight = get heavier
- I've put on two kilograms in the last month.
try on clothes (to see if they fit)
- I tried on a jacket in the shop, but it didn't fit me very well.
take off clothes, glasses etc.
- It was warm, so I took off my jacket.
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| D |
Off = away from a person or place
be off (to a place)
- Tomorrow I'm off to Paris / I'm off on holiday.
(= I'm going to Paris / I'm going on holiday)
walk off / run off / drive off / ride off / go off (similar to walk away / run away etc.)
- Diane got on her bike and rode off.
- Mark left home at the age of 18 and went off to Canada.
set off = start a journey
- We set off very early to avoid the traffic. (= We left early)
take off = leave the ground (for planes)
- After a long delay the plane finally took off.
see somebody off = go with them to the airport/station to say goodbye
- Helen was going away. We went to the station with her to see her off.
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