What Does “Send sb sth off” Mean?
“Send sb sth off” means to cause someone to send something, usually a letter, parcel, or message, to another place or person. It often involves initiating the dispatch or mailing of an item.
Introduction
The phrase “send sb sth off” is a common phrasal verb in English used to describe the action of causing someone to send something away. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” and “sth” stands for “something,” which means the phrase refers to sending an item or message through someone else. Understanding the send sb sth off meaning helps learners use it correctly in various contexts like mailing letters, shipping parcels, or even digitally sending files. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal situations, making it a flexible expression to have in your vocabulary.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: send sb sth off (send somebody something off)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to cause someone to send something away
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Send sb sth off” is a separable phrasal verb with an indirect object (“sb”) and a direct object (“sth”). The structure usually follows:
- send + somebody + something + off
- Example: She sent him the letter off yesterday.
You can also place the direct object before or after the indirect object, but the phrasal verb “off” stays at the end.
- send + something + off + to + somebody
- Example: She sent the letter off to him yesterday.
How to Use “Send sb sth off”?
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “send sb sth off”:
- I asked my assistant to send the documents off to the client this morning.
- Can you send the package off to Sarah before noon?
- He sent his secretary the forms to send off by post.
- They sent the photographer the photos to send off for printing.
- She sent her friend the parcel off to the new address.
Send sb sth off in a sentence means you are telling someone to send something away, often through mail or courier.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the order of the objects or forget to include “off.” Here are some common errors:
- Incorrect: She sent off him the letter.
- Correct: She sent him the letter off.
- Incorrect: Send sth sb off.
- Correct: Send sb sth off.
Remember, the indirect object (sb) comes before the direct object (sth), and “off” stays at the end.
Differences / Synonyms
“Send sb sth off” is similar to “send sth to sb” but with a focus on causing the sending action. Other phrasal verbs like “mail sth,” “ship sth,” or “post sth” focus on the sending itself rather than the involvement of a third person.
- Send sb sth off: cause someone to send something away
- Send sth to sb: directly send something to someone
- Mail sth: send something by postal service
The key difference is that “send sb sth off” involves an intermediary (someone who sends the item).
Common Collocations
We often use “send sb sth off” with items related to communication or delivery. Here are common collocations:
- send sb letters off – to mail letters
- send sb packages off – to ship packages
- send sb documents off – to dispatch official papers
- send sb forms off – to send official forms
- send sb photos off – to send pictures for printing or sharing
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of send sb sth off:
Real-life Dialogue
Here’s a short conversation using “send sb sth off”:
Anna: Did you send the report off to the manager?
Ben: Not yet. I asked Sarah to send it off this afternoon.
Anna: Great. Let me know once it’s done.
Practice
Try completing the sentences below with the correct form of “send sb sth off”:
- She asked her assistant to ______ the invoices ______ to the accounting department.
- Can you ______ the package ______ to my sister before Friday?
- He ______ the application forms ______ to the university last week.
FAQs
- What does “send sb sth off” mean?
It means to cause someone to send something away, like a letter or package. - Is “send sb sth off” formal or informal?
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Can I say “send sth sb off”?
No, the correct order is “send sb sth off.” - What types of things can be sent off?
Letters, packages, documents, photos, and forms are common. - Is “send sb sth off” the same as “send sth to sb”?
Not exactly. “Send sb sth off” involves causing someone else to send something.
