1 B2 informal
To remove something by striking it sharply, cutting it away with a hard blow.
"He whacked off the dead branches with a machete to clear the path."
separable
whack off
B2 slang separable transitive/intransitive
To cut or knock something off with a sharp, hard blow; also a vulgar slang term for male masturbation.
In plain English
To cut something off with one hard hit; also a rude word for a sexual act.
What does "whack off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
(Vulgar slang) To masturbate (male).
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To strike something with a 'whack' causing it to separate or fall off.
Actually means
To cut something off with one hard hit; also a rude word for a sexual act.
Usage tip
WARNING: This phrasal verb has a primary informal/colloquial meaning (to cut or strike off) and a prominent vulgar slang meaning (male masturbation). Learners should be aware of the vulgar sense to avoid unintended embarrassment. The non-vulgar sense is heard in British English informally.
How to conjugate "whack off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
whack off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
whacks off
he/she/it
Past simple
whacked off
yesterday
Past participle
whacked off
have + pp
-ing form
whacking off
continuous
Hear "whack off" in the wild
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