Browse all

piss off

B1 slang separable both
In simple words

To really annoy someone, or to tell someone to go away in a rude way.

Literal meaning: To urinate and leave — the 'off' implies departure.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic slang

To make someone very angry or irritated.

"It really pisses me off when people talk loudly on their phones in the library."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic slang

Used as a rude imperative to tell someone to go away or stop bothering you.

"When he kept knocking on her door, she finally shouted, "Piss off and leave me alone!""

3 B2 slang

To leave or go away (intransitive, British English).

"He just pissed off without saying goodbye to anyone."

Usage notes

Has two main senses: (1) transitive — to annoy someone ('it really pisses me off'); (2) intransitive imperative — a rude dismissal ('piss off!'). Sense 1 is common in both British and American English. Sense 2 (imperative dismissal) is more typically British. Both are vulgar — avoid in formal contexts. The past participle 'pissed off' also functions as an adjective meaning angry.

Commonly used with

really completely attitude behavior comment remark

Forms

Base
piss off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pisses off
he/she/it
Past simple
pissed off
yesterday
Past participle
pissed off
have + pp
-ing form
pissing off
continuous

Understand "piss off" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

annoy irritate aggravate get on someone's nerves bug wind up

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "piss off" on Looplines