clear off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, colloquial, sometimes impolite.
Quick answer
What does “clear off” mean?
To leave or go away immediately, often in a rude or abrupt manner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To leave or go away immediately, often in a rude or abrupt manner.
Used as a command or expression to tell someone to leave promptly; also used intransitively to mean departing quickly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Predominantly British; 'clear off' is rare in American English, where 'get lost', 'scram', or 'beat it' are more common equivalents.
Connotations
In British usage, it can range from mildly annoyed to aggressively dismissive. In American English, if used, it may sound archaic or consciously British.
Frequency
High frequency in informal British speech; very low frequency in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “clear off” in a Sentence
[Imperative] Clear off![Intransitive] He cleared off before the police arrived.[Transitive (rare)] Clear yourself off!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clear off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lads cleared off when they saw the teacher coming.
- "Clear off!" the gardener shouted at the trespassing children.
American English
- (Rare) He told them to clear off, but they just stood there confused.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Highly unlikely; far too informal and impolite.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in British informal speech, especially when expressing annoyance.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clear off”
- Using it transitively (e.g., 'Clear off the table' - incorrect). Using it in formal contexts. Expecting it to be understood in American English.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, especially when used as a blunt command ("Clear off!"). It expresses annoyance and is not polite.
You can, but many Americans may not recognize it immediately or may find it oddly British. Safer synonyms are 'get lost' or 'scram'.
'Clear off' means to leave a place (used mostly for people). 'Clear out' can mean to leave (similar) OR to remove things from a space (e.g., clear out a cupboard).
No, it is exclusively a phrasal verb. There is no standard noun derivative.
To leave or go away immediately, often in a rude or abrupt manner.
Clear off is usually informal, colloquial, sometimes impolite. in register.
Clear off: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪər ˈɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪr ˈɑːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Clear off the face of the earth (rare, hyperbolic).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shopkeeper sweeping a floor CLEAR and telling loiterers to "clear OFF" the premises.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPACE IS CLEANLINESS (Removing unwanted people is like clearing away rubbish).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'clear off' most commonly used and understood?