1 B1 idiomatic informal
To send someone away to a place, often hurriedly or without much choice being given to that person.
"Every summer, his parents packed him off to his grandparents' farm in the countryside."
separable
pack off
B1 informal separable transitive
To send someone somewhere, often quickly and with a sense of dismissal or urgency.
In plain English
Send someone away to a place, often because you want them gone or because it is convenient for you.
What does "pack off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To dismiss or get rid of someone by sending them somewhere else.
"The manager packed off the junior staff early so he could meet with the board in private."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pack someone up and send them off — the dismissive connotation is idiomatic.
Actually means
Send someone away to a place, often because you want them gone or because it is convenient for you.
Usage tip
Carries a slightly dismissive or impatient tone. Often used by parents sending children somewhere (e.g. to boarding school, to relatives). More common in British English.
Words that pair with "pack off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
children kids students boarding school relatives summer camp
How to conjugate "pack off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pack off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
packs off
he/she/it
Past simple
packed off
yesterday
Past participle
packed off
have + pp
-ing form
packing off
continuous
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