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fork off

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

For a road: split into two directions. As slang: a rude way to tell someone to go away.

Literal meaning: For a road to divide like the prongs of a fork and go off in a new direction.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

Of a road or path: to divide and go in a different direction from the main route.

"The path forks off to the left just past the old oak tree."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic slang

(Vulgar slang) Used as an expletive telling someone to go away or stop bothering you.

"He told the heckler to fork off and left the stage."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The road sense is straightforward and neutral. The expletive sense is vulgar British slang and should be used with great care. Learners should recognize but avoid the vulgar sense in most contexts.

Commonly used with

road path trail route left right

Forms

Base
fork off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
forks off
he/she/it
Past simple
forked off
yesterday
Past participle
forked off
have + pp
-ing form
forking off
continuous

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