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push off

B1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words

It means 'go away!' when you say it to someone, or it means to start moving away from somewhere.

Literal meaning: To push something so that it moves off or away from a surface.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

Used as an imperative to rudely tell someone to go away and stop bothering you.

"When the salesman knocked for the third time, she finally opened the door and told him to push off."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral

To leave a place, especially by pushing a boat away from a dock or shore.

"They pushed off from the jetty just as the sun was rising over the water."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To leave or depart informally.

"It's getting late — I think I'll push off and head home."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Chiefly British English. 'Push off!' as a dismissal is rude but not extremely offensive — milder than some alternatives. The nautical sense (leaving a dock by pushing against it) is more literal and neutral.

Commonly used with

boat shore dock crowd someone

Forms

Base
push off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pushes off
he/she/it
Past simple
pushed off
yesterday
Past participle
pushed off
have + pp
-ing form
pushing off
continuous

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