140 : Phrasal verbs 4 on/off (1)

   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. (주전자)

 

 

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)

 

 

   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.

 

 

   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.

 

 

   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.