What Does “Come off sth” Mean?
“Come off sth” means to stop taking or using something, such as medicine, drugs, or habits. It can also mean to succeed or to appear in a certain way.
Introduction
The phrase “Come off sth” is a common phrasal verb in English. It usually refers to stopping or withdrawing from something, like medication or a routine. For example, when someone stops taking a medicine, they “come off” it. The phrase can also describe how something appears or the result of an action, such as “the joke didn’t come off well.” Understanding the Come off sth meaning helps learners use it naturally in everyday speech. This phrase is useful in medical contexts, social situations, and casual conversations, making it versatile and important for English learners.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Come off sth (come off something)
- Type: Intransitive (usually)
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To stop using or taking something; to succeed or happen as planned
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Come off sth” is mostly inseparable, meaning the object (something) comes after the whole phrasal verb.
- Correct: He came off the medication last week.
- Incorrect: He came the medication off last week.
Patterns:
- Subject + come(s) off + object (something)
- Come off + no object (when meaning to succeed or happen)
How to Use “Come off sth”?
You use “come off sth” when talking about stopping a treatment, drug, or habit. It is also used when describing how a plan or event turned out.
- To stop taking medicine: She decided to come off the pills gradually.
- To stop using a product: He’s come off caffeine to improve his sleep.
- To describe success or failure: The speech came off well with the audience.
Examples
- After two months, he came off the antibiotics.
- She came off her asthma inhaler last year.
- The plan didn’t come off as expected.
- He tried to quit smoking, but he hasn’t come off it yet.
- The joke came off badly, and nobody laughed.
These examples show Come off sth in a sentence clearly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She came the medicine off yesterday.
- Correct: She came off the medicine yesterday.
- Incorrect: The plan came off successful.
- Correct: The plan came off successfully.
Differences / Synonyms
Come off sth vs Give up sth: “Come off” focuses on stopping use, especially medicine or drugs, while “give up” means quitting a habit or effort voluntarily.
Come off sth vs Stop sth: “Stop” is more general. “Come off” is often used for medicine or substances.
Come off sth vs Pull off: “Pull off” means to succeed in doing something difficult, while “come off” can mean success or failure in an event.
Common Collocations
- Come off medication
- Come off drugs
- Come off treatment
- Come off caffeine
- Come off a habit
- Come off a plan
- Come off well/badly
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of come off sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Have you come off your allergy medicine yet?
Mark: Yes, my doctor said I can stop now. I came off it last week.
Anna: That’s great! How do you feel?
Mark: Much better. I didn’t expect to come off it so soon.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “come off”:
- After six months, she finally _______ the medication.
- The event _______ better than we hoped.
- He wants to _______ caffeine to sleep well.
- The joke didn’t _______ well with the crowd.
FAQs
- Q: Can “come off” be used with any object?
A: It is mostly used with medicines, drugs, or habits. - Q: Is “come off” separable?
A: No, the object follows the whole phrasal verb. - Q: Does “come off” always mean to stop something?
A: No, it can also mean to succeed or how something appears. - Q: Can I say “come off smoking”?
A: Yes, it means to stop smoking. - Q: Is “come off” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts.
