1 C1 idiomatic informal
To leave a place quietly and quickly, often to avoid notice or responsibility.
"He ducked off before anyone could ask him to help clean up."
inseparable
duck off
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To leave a place quickly and quietly, often without drawing attention.
In plain English
To quietly leave a place without anyone noticing.
What does "duck off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Less common than 'duck out'. Heard more in Australian and British informal speech. Can imply avoiding a responsibility or simply making a quiet exit. Not widely used in formal writing.
Words that pair with "duck off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
quietly early meeting party unnoticed
How to conjugate "duck off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
duck off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ducks off
he/she/it
Past simple
ducked off
yesterday
Past participle
ducked off
have + pp
-ing form
ducking off
continuous
Hear "duck off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "duck off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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