leave off
B1 neutral separable both
In simple words
To stop doing something, or to not put something on a list.
Literal meaning: To leave something in an 'off' position or state.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To stop doing something, or to reach a stopping point in an activity.
"Let's pick up the meeting from where we left off yesterday."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral
To omit someone or something from a list, document, or group.
"My name was accidentally left off the invitation list."
Grammar: separable
3 C1
idiomatic
informal
(British informal) To tell someone to stop doing something annoying.
"'Leave off teasing your sister,' their father said firmly."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
The sense of 'stopping' is often informal and used without an object ('where did we leave off?'). The omission sense is separable and used with an object. British English also uses 'leave off' informally to mean 'stop it!'.
Commonly used with
list name details work point habit
Forms
Base
leave off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
leaves off
he/she/it
Past simple
left off
yesterday
Past participle
left off
have + pp
-ing form
leaving off
continuous
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Synonyms
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