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hand off

B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To give a task or object to the next person who will deal with it.

Literal meaning: To use your hand to move something off (away from yourself) to another person.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To pass a task, project, or case to another person to continue.

"Before she left the company, she handed off all her clients to a colleague."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

(American football) To give the ball directly from the quarterback to another player.

"The quarterback handed off to the running back, who gained fifteen yards."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

(Medical/Service) To transfer care of a patient or customer to another professional.

"The night nurse handed off the patients to the day shift with a full briefing."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Originally from American football, where a quarterback hands the ball to a running back. Now widely used in business and tech (e.g. 'hand off a project', 'hand off a patient'). More common in American English than British English, where 'hand over' is preferred.

Commonly used with

project patient baton ball client case responsibility

Forms

Base
hand off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hands off
he/she/it
Past simple
handed off
yesterday
Past participle
handed off
have + pp
-ing form
handing off
continuous

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Synonyms

transfer pass on delegate hand over relay pass

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