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fluff off

C1 informal separable transitive/intransitive

To dismiss or send someone away rudely; also used as a softened expletive equivalent to 'go away'.

In plain English

Tell someone to go away or stop bothering you, in a rude way.

What does "fluff off" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 C1 idiomatic informal

To tell someone rudely to go away or stop bothering you.

"When the journalist kept asking intrusive questions, the celebrity simply told him to fluff off."

inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic informal

To dismiss or ignore someone or something in a casual or contemptuous way.

"She fluffed off his concerns about the deadline without even looking up from her phone."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To remove fluff (soft fiber) by brushing it away — metaphorically extended to brushing a person away.

Actually means

Tell someone to go away or stop bothering you, in a rude way.

Usage tip

Primarily used as a euphemistic substitute for a stronger expletive ('f*** off'). More common in British and Australian English than American English. Can be used as an imperative ('Fluff off!') or transitively ('He fluffed her off'). Considered mildly rude.

Words that pair with "fluff off"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

someone critic question complaint reporter

How to conjugate "fluff off"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
fluff off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fluffs off
he/she/it
Past simple
fluffed off
yesterday
Past participle
fluffed off
have + pp
-ing form
fluffing off
continuous

Hear "fluff off" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "fluff off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

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