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score off

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To cross something out on paper, or to win an argument by making the other person look silly.

Literal meaning: To make a scored (cut) line, removing something — transparent in the textual sense.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To draw a line through a word or item on a list to indicate it has been removed or dealt with.

"She scored off each item on the checklist as she finished packing."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic neutral

To gain a social or intellectual advantage over someone, especially by making them look foolish in an argument.

"He was always trying to score off his colleagues in meetings rather than working as a team."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Two distinct meanings: (1) the textual sense of crossing out words is fairly formal and found in editing contexts; (2) the interpersonal sense of gaining advantage over someone is more British and found in literary or journalistic writing. The interpersonal sense is somewhat old-fashioned.

Commonly used with

list name word opponent rival colleague

Forms

Base
score off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scores off
he/she/it
Past simple
scored off
yesterday
Past participle
scored off
have + pp
-ing form
scoring off
continuous

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