Get off! I hope you understand 'off' after reading this blog

We use the word off in many different ways. Lately when I talk to people about their work, I will say 'what time do you get off' and they won't know what I mean. Here are some explanations about how to use 'off'.

 

If you aren't working one day, we would say that it's your day off. 

 

When you stop working, then that is the time that you are 'off'. I might say, "What time do you get off?" or, "What time do you get off work?" You would say, "I get off at 4." or, "I get off work at four" No need to use 'the' or 'my'. Just say, "I get off at four" or whenever you are finished work. 

 

If you take a holiday you could say, "I'm taking some time off." If you are stressed, your boss might say, "Why don't you take some time off?" 

 

Those are the ways you can use 'off' for work. For fun, you could say, "Hey, do you like karaoke? I really get off on it." This is slang, of course. Getting 'off' on something means having fun with it. It seems strange to use the word 'off' just before the word 'on' but in this case that's what you have to do. "I help people with English because I get off on helping people."

 

Off can also mean that you don't like something. "The smell of her perfume really put me off." That means that you didn't like her because of her perfume. "He is a nice looking guy but his attitude puts me off." When off is used in that way with the words 'put me' or 'puts me', it's a negative thing. Rap music puts me off! Not really true, it's an example.

 

Off can also mean spoiled. 'The cream is off.' This means that the cream is sour or almost sour. I think you would find this used in Britain more than in North America but you will hear it sometime, I'm sure. 

 

Finally, 'got off' or 'get off' can mean something sexual too so you might hear that or read it in a book. It's another phrase for an orgasm. If you remember the Eagles' song, Life in the Fast Lane, that phrase is used as a double entendre in one verse. Hey, I want you guys to know all about English so don't yell at me for explaining this to you. Western movies are full of phrases that aren't really polite but they are all part of the English language and all part of words you hear every day. Song lyrics can be beautiful, intense or raw, as you know. Ask me about anything you can't understand. OK?  

 

Maybe this will help end the confusion you feel when you talk to me and I say, "Is it your day off today?" I hope so!

 

Thanks for reading.

 

P.S. I had the title of the blog as "I hope do get 'off' after reading this blog" but I changed it.  First, I saw I had left out the 'you' before do, then I realized that it probably sounded bad after I changed it to "I hope you do get off after reading this blog."  The word 'get' means understand. If you get something, it can mean understand or pick up and bring. In this case I meant 'to understand'. Now you know, right? Do you get it? Got it? Good! :)