What Does โCross sb offโ Mean?
โCross sb offโ means to remove someoneโs name from a list, usually by drawing a line through it. It is often used when someone is no longer considered or included.
Introduction
The phrase โCross sb offโ is a common phrasal verb in English that refers to removing a personโs name from a list by drawing a line through it. This action usually indicates that the person is no longer relevant, needed, or chosen for something. The cross sb off meaning can apply in many contexts, such as making a guest list, planning events, or deciding who will participate in an activity. It helps express the idea of elimination or exclusion clearly and simply in both spoken and written English. Understanding how to use this phrase correctly will improve your communication, especially when discussing lists or selections.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: cross somebody off
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to remove someoneโs name from a list by drawing a line through it
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCross sb offโ is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object (somebody) between the verb โcrossโ and the particle โoff,โ or after the whole phrasal verb.
- Cross someone off
- Cross off someone
Examples:
- We need to cross John off the list.
- We need to cross off John from the list.
How to Use โCross sb offโ?
Use โcross sb offโ when referring to removing a personโs name from a list or group. It often implies that the person is no longer part of a plan or is excluded for some reason. This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when talking about lists, schedules, or selections.
For example, if you have a guest list for a party and someone cancels, you might say, โLetโs cross her off the guest list.โ
Examples
- We crossed Tom off the team because he was injured.
- Please cross me off the invitation list; I wonโt be able to come.
- After confirming the attendees, the teacher crossed off the students who were absent.
- They crossed off several candidates after the interviews.
- Cross sb off in a sentence: The manager crossed her off the project team due to scheduling conflicts.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I crossed off her the list.
Correct: I crossed her off the list. - Incorrect: Can you cross off him?
Correct: Can you cross him off? - Incorrect: Cross off the people off the list.
Correct: Cross the people off the list.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Take off โ usually means to remove something physically, not names from lists.
- Remove โ a more formal word meaning to take something away, but does not imply crossing out.
- Delete โ often used for digital contexts, like deleting names from an online list.
The key difference is that โcross sb offโ specifically refers to physically marking a name off a written list, while others may be more general or digital.
Common Collocations
- Cross sb off the list
- Cross sb off the guest list
- Cross sb off the team
- Cross sb off the invitation
- Cross sb off the schedule
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of cross sb off:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Have you finished the attendance list for the trip?
Ben: Yes, but we need to cross off a few students who canceled.
Anna: Okay, please cross off Mark and Lisa. They said they canโt come.
Ben: Done. Now we have 20 students going.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โcross sb offโ:
- Please ________ John ________ the guest list because he wonโt attend.
- The teacher ________ several students ________ the attendance sheet.
- We should ________ her ________ the team if she canโt play.
FAQs
- Q: Can โcross sb offโ be used for objects?
A: No, it is mainly used for people or names on lists. - Q: Is โcross sb offโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. - Q: What is the difference between โcross sb offโ and โdeleteโ?
A: โCross sb offโ is for physical lists; โdeleteโ is for digital lists. - Q: Can I say โcross off sbโ?
A: No, the correct forms are โcross sb offโ or โcross off sb.โ - Q: Does โcross sb offโ always mean negative?
A: Usually yes, it means removing or excluding someone.
