From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgo off phrasal verb1 leave to leave a place, especially in order to do something John decided to go off on his own. to He went off to work as usual.go off to do something Geoff went off to play golf.2 explodeEXPLODE to explode or fire The bomb went off at 6.30 this morning. Fireworks were going off all over the city. The gun went off and the bullet went flying over his head.3 make a noiseSOUND if an alarm goes off, it makes a noise to warn you about something The thieves ran away when the alarm went off. I’ve set the alarm clock to go off at 7 am.4 stop liking go off somebody/something British English informalDON'T LIKE to stop liking something or someone Many women go off coffee during pregnancy.go off doing something I’ve gone off cooking lately.5 stop workingOFF/SWITCHED OFF if a machine or piece of equipment goes off, it stops working The central heating goes off at 9 o’clock. Suddenly, all the lights went off. 6 go off well/badly etcHAPPEN to happen in a particular way The party went off very well.7 happen British English spoken informal to happen SYN go on There was a blazing row going off next door.8 decay British EnglishDECAY if food goes off, it becomes too bad to eat The milk’s gone off.9 sleepSLEEP to go to sleep I’d just gone off to sleep when the phone rang.10 get worse British English informalWORSE to get worse He’s a singer whose talent has gone off in recent years. → go→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
go off• She had just put him inside her when all of a sudden the music got louder and those cannons started going off.• As Mike moved towards my table the two children left him, going off across the terrace in different directions.• After the 30-car train passed, the flashing red lights went off and the arms blocking traffic went up.• Many trainees don't finish the course and go off and work in other areas.• The heating goes off at 10:30.• I get up as soon as the alarm clock goes off at 7:15.• Many women go off coffee and alcohol during pregnancy.• The female sits inside the nest while the male goes off collecting nest material.• I used to think he was really funny, but now I've gone off him.• Remi was gone off in the dark to get another box.• I used to drink tea all the time, but I've gone off it lately.• I'm sure that everything will go off smoothly on the day.• The referee then went off the field to consult an officer at the touchline who waved us off the pitch.• My neighbour's car alarm went off three times last night.• When we could not find out what was wrong with the car, Billy went off to find a phone.• My great-grandparents were aghast at the idea of a married woman, with a child, going off to school.• He was a miner and he went off to the First World War and got killed.• Ramsay went off to try to recruit more men in his part of Lothian.• Thanks to the helpful staff at the hotel, the conference went off very well.• Everyone was relieved when the ceremony at the Ambassador's residence went off without a hitch.• They just went off, without even saying goodbye.go to• I went off to check with Feeley and see how the press end of things was going.• Menelaus trusting completely to it left Paris in his home and went off to Crete.• Joe still reproaches me for a wood carving Laimonis gave me when we parted to go off to different universities.• He decides he must do something about it and goes off to find the works engineer.• His son has gone off to London, and he worries that he may lose touch with him.• The mayor-elect was then proposed and seconded before the two councillors went off to search for him.• In any case, Langan, McCarthy and Stedeford went off to the next job without him.• The material for printing usually goes off to the printer on the Tuesday, when the noticeboards are changed.go off somebody/something• She had just put him inside her when all of a sudden the music got louder and those cannons started going off.• As Mike moved towards my table the two children left him, going off across the terrace in different directions.• The female sits inside the nest while the male goes off collecting nest material.• Remi was gone off in the dark to get another box.• The referee then went off the field to consult an officer at the touchline who waved us off the pitch.• My great-grandparents were aghast at the idea of a married woman, with a child, going off to school.• He was a miner and he went off to the First World War and got killed.• Ramsay went off to try to recruit more men in his part of Lothian. 