1 B1 informal
To remove a piece of clothing or an object quickly and carelessly by throwing it.
"She slung off her jacket and collapsed onto the sofa."
separable
sling off
B2 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To remove something quickly and carelessly by flinging it, or (Australian English) to mock or make fun of someone.
In plain English
Take something off quickly by throwing it, or (in Australia) make fun of someone.
What does "sling off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
(Australian/NZ English) To mock, tease, or speak disparagingly about someone.
"The other kids were always slinging off at him for being the new student."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To sling (throw) something off — transparent in the removal sense.
Actually means
Take something off quickly by throwing it, or (in Australia) make fun of someone.
Usage tip
Has two quite different senses depending on dialect. The sense of removing clothing carelessly is broadly understood. The Australian sense of mocking or insulting someone ('sling off at someone') is specific to Australian and New Zealand English and may not be understood by British or American speakers.
Words that pair with "sling off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
coat jacket someone remarks clothes gear
How to conjugate "sling off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sling off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slings off
he/she/it
Past simple
slinged off
yesterday
Past participle
slinged off
have + pp
-ing form
slinging off
continuous
Hear "sling off" in the wild
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