What Does “Put sb off sth; put sb off doing sth” Mean?
The phrasal verb “put sb off sth” means to discourage someone from liking or doing something. Similarly, “put sb off doing sth” means to make someone not want to do a particular activity.
Introduction
“Put sb off sth; put sb off doing sth meaning” involves causing someone to lose interest or feel reluctant about a person, thing, or activity. This phrasal verb is common in everyday English and is often used when something unpleasant or negative makes someone avoid a situation or task. Understanding how to use this phrase correctly can help you express feelings of discouragement or hesitation clearly. Whether in casual conversations or formal writing, knowing this expression adds variety to your language skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: put somebody off something / put somebody off doing something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To discourage or repel someone from something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
This phrasal verb is separable when using a pronoun object and inseparable otherwise.
- Separable: put sb off something
- Example: They put me off the idea.
- When using a pronoun: put sb off sth
- Inseparable: put off doing something
- Example: The bad weather put me off going outside.
- Note: “put off” + gerund (doing something) is inseparable.
How to Use Put sb off sth; put sb off doing sth?
Use “put sb off sth” when you want to express that someone is discouraged by a specific thing or person. Use “put sb off doing sth” when the discouragement relates to an action or activity.
Common patterns:
- Put + somebody + off + noun (thing/person)
- Put + somebody + off + verb-ing (action)
Examples
Have you ever been discouraged from doing something because of a bad experience? That is how you use “put sb off sth; put sb off doing sth” in a sentence.
- The rude waiter really put me off the restaurant.
- Her constant complaining put me off joining the club.
- The scary movie put the children off watching any horror films.
- He was put off buying the car because of its high price.
- Don’t let one failure put you off trying again.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the structure or use the wrong preposition with this phrasal verb.
- Incorrect: She put off me doing the homework.
- Correct: She put me off doing the homework.
- Incorrect: The smell put me off to eat.
- Correct: The smell put me off eating.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “turn sb off” and “put sb down,” but they have different meanings.
- Turn sb off: Means to cause dislike or loss of interest, often in a sexual or general sense.
- Put sb down: Means to insult or belittle someone.
“Put sb off” specifically means discouraging or deterring someone from something.
Common Collocations
Some common objects and actions used with “put sb off” include:
- Put sb off the idea – discourage someone from an idea
- Put sb off the food – lose appetite because of food
- Put sb off doing something – discourage from an activity
- Put sb off the plan – discourage from a plan
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of put sb off sth put sb off doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Imagine two friends talking about their experience at a new cafe.
Anna: I wanted to try that new cafe, but the dirty tables really put me off.
Ben: Yeah, I heard the service was slow too. That would put me off going there again.
Practice
Try filling the blanks with the correct form of “put sb off sth” or “put sb off doing sth.”
- The loud noise ______ me ______ studying in the library.
- She was ______ off the movie because of the bad reviews.
- The broken elevator ______ us ______ staying in that hotel.
- His rude behavior ______ me ______ working with him.
FAQ
- Q: Can “put sb off” be used in formal writing? A: Yes, especially when describing discouragement or reluctance.
- Q: Is “put sb off” always negative? A: Usually, yes, it means discouraging or repelling.
- Q: Can I use “put sb off” with both people and things? A: Yes, it can refer to people, ideas, activities, or things.
- Q: What is the difference between “put sb off” and “put sb down”? A: “Put sb off” means discourage; “put sb down” means insult.
- Q: How do I use “put sb off” with gerunds? A: Use “put sb off” + verb-ing to show discouragement from an action.
