SpeakUp

Grammar fix

come off it

stop being silly or unbelievable

Used to tell someone to stop saying something that is hard to believe, silly, or not true.

phrasal verbB2occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Come off it, there's no way you finished all that work in one hour.communication
  • If my friend said he could speak five languages fluently after just a year, I’d probably say, 'Come off it!' because that sounds impossible.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: Come off it!

WrongCome off it this story, it's not true.

RightOh, come off it — that's not true.

It's a fixed exclamation; you can't attach an object to it.

PatternCome off it!

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I really don't think that can possibly be true.

Natural Oh, come off it!

When you flatly reject an unbelievable claim in speech, 'come off it' is the natural dismissal; the polite paraphrase loses all the punch.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • come off it (+ challenge)
    come off it!oh, come off itcome off it, you

Don't confuse it

Do not confuse with 'come off' (to detach or succeed). 'Come off it' is always used as a fixed phrase to challenge what someone is saying.

Try it in Daily Speak →