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Meaning trap

go off

leave suddenly

To leave a place suddenly, often without telling anyone.

phrasal verbB2common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

leave suddenly

To leave a place suddenly, often without telling anyone.

go off (alarm rings or bomb explodes)

Another meaning of 'go off' is 'alarm rings or bomb explodes'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • She went off without saying goodbye to anyone.relationships
  • Sometimes people go off to study in another country to experience a new culture.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: go off (no object) / go off (to/with someone/something)

WrongShe went off from the party early.

RightShe went off early. / She left the party early.

You don't 'go off from' a place. Use 'go off' alone, or 'go off + to a destination'.

Patterngo off (no object) / go off (to/with someone/something)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff He departed without informing anyone.

Natural He just went off without saying a word.

'Go off' captures leaving abruptly. 'Departed without informing anyone' is formal.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • go off + to/-ing
    off to bedoff somewhereoff in a huffoff to find her

Don't confuse it

Not about noise or food.

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