1 A2 neutral
To fall or move off a surface by rolling.
"The apple rolled off the table and bounced across the kitchen floor."
roll off
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To leave a surface or place by rolling, or (of words/language) to be produced easily and naturally.
In plain English
To roll and fall or move off a surface, OR for words to come out of your mouth very easily.
What does "roll off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Of words, sounds, or language) to be produced easily, smoothly, and naturally.
"Her name was beautiful — it just rolled off the tongue."
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Of products) to come off an assembly or production line in a continuous flow.
"Thousands of new cars roll off the production line every day."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To roll and fall or move away from a surface — mostly transparent.
Actually means
To roll and fall or move off a surface, OR for words to come out of your mouth very easily.
Usage tip
The 'roll off the tongue' expression is very common and means language that is easy and pleasant to say. Industrial use: products 'roll off the assembly line/production line' — very standard business/manufacturing language. Also used for water rolling off a waterproof surface.
Words that pair with "roll off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tongue assembly line production line table surface back water shelf
How to conjugate "roll off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
roll off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rolls off
he/she/it
Past simple
rolled off
yesterday
Past participle
rolled off
have + pp
-ing form
rolling off
continuous
Hear "roll off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "roll off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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