1 B1 informal
To fall into a short, light sleep, especially unintentionally.
"He snoozed off in the armchair about halfway through the film."
inseparable
snooze off
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To fall into a light or brief sleep, especially unintentionally.
In plain English
To accidentally fall asleep, usually for a short time.
What does "snooze off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To snooze (sleep lightly) while drifting off — fairly transparent.
Actually means
To accidentally fall asleep, usually for a short time.
Usage tip
Less common than 'doze off' or 'nod off.' Casual and informal in register. 'Snooze' already implies a short, light sleep, so the addition of 'off' reinforces the idea of drifting away.
Words that pair with "snooze off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
on the sofa during class in front of the TV briefly
How to conjugate "snooze off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
snooze off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
snoozes off
he/she/it
Past simple
snoozed off
yesterday
Past participle
snoozed off
have + pp
-ing form
snoozing off
continuous
Hear "snooze off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "snooze off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "snooze off"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.