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leave off

B1/B2
UK/liːv ˈɒf/US/liːv ˈɔːf/

Informal, conversational. Often replaced by 'stop' in more formal contexts.

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Definition

Meaning

To stop doing something, to cease an activity or behaviour.

To not include someone or something; to fail to put on an item of clothing; to stop at a certain point (in a sequence or process).

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Most commonly used as an imperative or in the infinitive form ('to leave off'). Often implies an activity that is annoying, tiring, or should be discontinued.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

More frequent in British English; in American English, 'stop' or 'quit' are often preferred.

Connotations

In British English, can carry a tone of mild exasperation or casual command. In American English, it might sound slightly old-fashioned or British.

Frequency

High frequency in UK informal speech; medium-low frequency in US speech.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
leave off (doing something)leave it off
medium
leave off workleave off schoolleave off that noise
weak
leave off the listleave off your coat

Grammar

Valency Patterns

leave off + V-ingleave off + noun/pronounleave off (intransitive)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

give uppack in (informal UK)quit

Neutral

stopceasediscontinue

Weak

pausetake a break frombreak off

Vocabulary

Antonyms

startbegincontinuekeep onpersist in

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “Pick up where you left off”
  • “Leave off the dramatics!”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare. 'We need to leave off discussing this until the next quarter.'

Academic

Very rare. Not used in formal academic prose.

Everyday

Common. 'Leave off pestering your sister!' 'I think I'll leave off work early today.'

Technical

Not used.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • Just leave off, will you?
  • I wish he'd leave off whistling.
  • We left off planting at row five.

American English

  • Leave off the sarcasm, please.
  • She decided to leave off working for a bit.
  • The book left off on a cliffhanger.

adverb

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

adjective

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Leave off! That's mine!
  • I left off playing and went home.
B1
  • You should leave off eating so much sugar.
  • He finally left off complaining.
B2
  • The meeting left off with several issues unresolved.
  • They were told to leave off their investigations.
C1
  • The narrative leaves off ambiguously, inviting multiple interpretations.
  • After the scandal, he was advised to leave off public speaking for a while.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine someone LEAVING a room to get OFF a noisy, annoying treadmill. They LEAVE to get OFF it = they stop doing it.

Conceptual Metaphor

MOVEMENT AWAY (LEAVE) FROM A POSITION/ACTIVITY (OFF).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not translate as 'уезжать' or 'покидать'.
  • It is not about physically departing.
  • The closest simple equivalent is 'перестать', 'бросить' (doing something).

Common Mistakes

  • *I left off the bus at the station. (Wrong - this is 'got off')
  • Using it in formal writing.
  • Confusing with 'leave out' (omit).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
If you don't shouting, I'm going to call security.
Multiple Choice

In which sentence is 'leave off' used CORRECTLY?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is primarily informal and conversational. Use 'stop', 'cease', or 'discontinue' in formal writing.

'Leave off' means to stop doing something. 'Leave out' means to omit or not include something/someone.

Yes, especially as an imperative: 'Leave off!' meaning 'Stop that!'

It is understood but is less common than in British English. Americans more frequently use 'stop', 'quit', or 'knock it off'.