1 B1 idiomatic informal
To leave a place suddenly or quickly.
"Sorry, I have to pop off — I'm late for my dentist appointment."
inseparable
pop off
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To leave suddenly, to speak angrily or impulsively, or (informal) to die.
In plain English
To suddenly leave a place, say something angrily without thinking, or (informally) to die.
What does "pop off" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To speak impulsively, angrily, or aggressively, especially without thinking first.
"He popped off at his manager during the meeting and later had to apologise."
inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic informal
(Euphemistic, informal) To die.
"The old gentleman popped off quietly in his sleep at the age of ninety-four."
inseparable
4 C1 idiomatic informal
To fire a gun or shoot something.
"The soldiers popped off a few rounds during the training exercise."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Pop' suggests a sudden, explosive action; 'off' indicates departure or discharge — the senses branch from these two core ideas.
Actually means
To suddenly leave a place, say something angrily without thinking, or (informally) to die.
Usage tip
Has several distinct senses depending on context: departure, angry speech, or death (the death sense is a British euphemism). Also used to mean firing a gun. Context is essential for correct interpretation. The 'angry outburst' sense is common in American English.
Words that pair with "pop off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
angrily suddenly quickly meeting gun loudly
How to conjugate "pop off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pop off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pops off
he/she/it
Past simple
poped off
yesterday
Past participle
poped off
have + pp
-ing form
poping off
continuous
Hear "pop off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "pop off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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