tick off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal (annoyance meaning). Neutral (list meaning).
Quick answer
What does “tick off” mean?
To mark items on a list as completed or verified.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To mark items on a list as completed or verified.
To make someone annoyed or angry (chiefly British). To reprimand or scold (chiefly British). To irritate or provoke (chiefly British).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'tick off' commonly means 'to reprimand' or 'to annoy'. In American English, this meaning is rare; the primary meaning is 'to mark as completed'. Americans are more likely to use 'chew out' or 'tell off' for the reprimand meaning.
Connotations
UK: Can range from mild irritation to serious scolding. US: Purely transactional/administrative.
Frequency
The 'annoy' meaning is high frequency in UK informal speech. In the US, the 'mark' meaning is medium frequency, often in work/administrative contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “tick off” in a Sentence
[Someone] ticks [something] off ([a list]).[Something] ticks [someone] off.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tick off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The constant humming really ticked me off.
- The manager ticked off the intern for the late submission.
American English
- Can you tick off the names of those who have arrived?
- I tick off each milestone as we achieve it.
adverb
British English
- He nodded tickingly off as she listed his mistakes. (rare/constructed)
American English
- N/A for this phrasal verb.
adjective
British English
- He had a very ticked-off expression after the meeting.
American English
- She was ticked off about the change in policy. (understood but less common)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in project management for task completion ('Please tick off the completed items').
Academic
Rare, except in procedural instructions.
Everyday
Common for to-do lists and expressing annoyance.
Technical
Used in computing/UI for selection states.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tick off”
- Using 'tick off' to mean 'annoy' in formal American contexts.
- Incorrect preposition: 'tick on the list' instead of 'tick off the list'.
- Using it transitively without an object: 'He was ticking off.' (needs 'He was ticking me off.' or 'He was ticking off items.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The 'mark as completed' meaning is neutral and can be used in formal and informal contexts. The 'annoy/reprimand' meaning is informal.
It will likely be understood due to media exposure, but it sounds distinctly British. An American would more naturally say 'piss off', 'annoy', or 'bug'.
It's regular: 'ticked off'. E.g., 'She ticked off the items yesterday.' / 'His comment ticked me off.'
Yes, informally in British English, a 'ticking-off' is a scolding or reprimand. E.g., 'He got a real ticking-off from his boss.'
To mark items on a list as completed or verified.
Tick off: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɪk ˈɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɪk ˈɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Tick off all the boxes”
- “That really ticks me off”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ticking clock – it can mark the passage of time (ticking items off a list) or its sound can be annoying (ticking someone off).
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS A PHYSICAL MARK. ANGER IS PRESSURE BUILDING UP (like a ticking bomb).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, if someone says 'The noise is really ticking me off,' what do they mean?