paw off

C1 informal separable transitive

In simple words

to get rid of something by giving it to someone else

Literal meaning: to move something away with the paw or hand

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

rare

to shift an unwanted thing, duty, or problem onto someone else

"He tried to paw off the extra paperwork on the new assistant."

Grammar: separable

Usage notes

Very rare and nonstandard in many varieties of English. Learners are more likely to meet 'pawn off' or 'fob off'.

responsibility task trouble problem work

Base

paw off

I/you/we/they

3rd person

paws off

he/she/it

Past simple

pawed off

yesterday

Past participle

pawed off

have + pp

-ing form

pawing off

continuous

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