1 A2 neutral
to become detached from something
"One of the handles came off the suitcase."
inseparable
come off
B1 neutral intransitive transitive/intransitive
to become detached, happen successfully, or give a particular impression
In plain English
to come away, happen well, or seem in a certain way
What does "come off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to happen successfully or as planned
"The festival came off despite the rain."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
to make a particular impression on others
"He came off as rude, although he was just nervous."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move away from the surface of something
Actually means
to come away, happen well, or seem in a certain way
Usage tip
Common in both literal and figurative uses. It is frequent in spoken English and can also describe how words or behavior are received.
Words that pair with "come off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
lid button show plan joke speech
How to conjugate "come off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
come off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
comes off
he/she/it
Past simple
came off
yesterday
Past participle
come off
have + pp
-ing form
coming off
continuous
Hear "come off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "come off"
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Keep exploring
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