1 B2 informal
(Sports) To touch a teammate to transfer the active role to them, as in a relay race or tag team wrestling
"She tagged off to her partner as soon as she touched the wall after the first length."
inseparable
tag off
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To touch a teammate to signal the transfer of turns, especially in tag-relay sports or games
In plain English
Touch your partner so they can start their turn while you rest
What does "tag off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
(Transit, British/Australian English) To end a journey by touching a travel card on a reader when leaving a bus or train
"Don't forget to tag off when you leave the bus or you'll be charged the maximum fare."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make a tag (a touch) and go off — largely transparent in a sports context.
Actually means
Touch your partner so they can start their turn while you rest
Usage tip
Used in relay swimming, wrestling tag matches, children's tag games, and figuratively in team work contexts. Also used in transit systems in some varieties of English to mean touching out with a travel card (variant of 'tap off').
Words that pair with "tag off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
partner teammate relay swimmer wrestler runner
How to conjugate "tag off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tag off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tags off
he/she/it
Past simple
taged off
yesterday
Past participle
taged off
have + pp
-ing form
taging off
continuous
Hear "tag off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tag off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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