come off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “come off” mean?
to become detached, separated, or removed from something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to become detached, separated, or removed from something; to succeed or happen in a particular way.
It can also mean: to appear in a particular way; to achieve a result (especially in competition or after an attempt); to stop taking medication; to conclude or end.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use it similarly. The literal meaning 'detach' is equally common. In UK English, "come off it!" is a stronger, more common idiomatic expression of disbelief (= stop talking nonsense). In US English, the imperative is also used but may be perceived as slightly more dated.
Connotations
Generally neutral, though "come off" meaning 'to appear' (He came off as arrogant) can have a slightly negative connotation of unintended impression.
Frequency
High frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “come off” in a Sentence
NP come off (intransitive)NP come off NP (transitive, separable)come off as NP/ADJVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “come off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The label's come off my suitcase.
- Do you think their plan will come off?
- He came off rather pompously in the interview.
- She's coming off her antidepressants gradually.
American English
- The door handle came off in my hand.
- The stunt didn't come off as spectacularly as hoped.
- He comes off as a know-it-all.
- The player came off the bench to score the winning goal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The merger didn't come off as planned, costing us millions."
Academic
"The experiment came off without a hitch, yielding clear results."
Everyday
"The sticker won't come off the window." / "He came off his bike at the roundabout."
Technical
"The catalyst must come off the substrate cleanly for reuse."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “come off”
- *He came off like he was angry. (Use 'as' not 'like' in formal writing)
- *I came the sticker off. (Separable use is less common; 'the sticker came off' is preferred)
- *The meeting came off on Monday. (Incorrect for scheduling; use 'came off' only for the success/occurrence of the event itself, not its timing).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It ranges from informal to neutral. It is common in spoken English and informal writing. For very formal writing, synonyms like 'succeed', 'detach', or 'appear' might be preferred.
In literal detachment contexts, 'come off of' is common in casual US speech (e.g., 'It came off of the wall'), but in UK English and formal writing, 'come off' alone is standard ('It came off the wall').
'Come off' focuses on the fact of separation, often with an agent or cause implied. 'Fall off' emphasizes the manner of separation - descending due to gravity. A handle can 'come off' if you pull it, but it 'falls off' if it drops to the ground.
It's a direct, informal idiom expressing strong disbelief or telling someone to stop saying something ridiculous. It's often used among friends or in heated arguments. Example: 'You expect me to believe that? Oh, come off it!'
to become detached, separated, or removed from something.
Come off: in British English it is pronounced /kʌm ˈɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /kʌm ˈɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Come off it! (expression of disbelief)”
- “come off the bench (sports)”
- “come off the boil”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMEdian stepping OFF the stage after a successful show. The performance (event) CAME OFF (happened/succeeded), and the comedian CAME OFF (detached) from the stage.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS REMOVAL FROM A SURFACE (pulling off a win); APPEARANCE IS AN EXIT (coming off as rude).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'He comes off as very confident,' what is the closest meaning of 'comes off as'?