AFK stands for away from keyboard. People use it in a chat or online game to warn others that they're dropping out of the conversation for a while. It often appears in phrases like go afk or afk for five minutes.
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afk + for + time; go afk; be afk
- afk for ten minutes, I need to hang the washing out before it rains.
- Sorry I didn't answer, I went afk to cook dinner.
- He's been afk for half the game, so we're playing with four people.
What changed
First versionDear Ms Bennett, I will be afk from 2 to 4 pm tomorrow, as I have a dentist appointment.
RevisionDear Ms Bennett, I will be out of the office from 2 to 4 pm tomorrow, as I have a dentist appointment.
AFK is chat and gaming slang, and a message to your manager is a work message. You need an ordinary phrase: out of the office if you're leaving the office, or away from my desk if you're stepping away briefly but staying in the building.
AFK and brb often appear together but mean different things: afk says you're not at the screen, while brb (be right back) promises you'll be back soon: afk, brb. In a work chat or email, instead of afk, write I'll be away for a few minutes or I'll be offline until three. This abbreviation has no place in an IELTS essay or in Speaking.
Your turn
The pizza's burning, I need to run to the kitchen. ___ for five minutes, don't start the next round without me!
Show the answer
afk — You're leaving the game for five minutes and asking your friends to wait, which is afk. IRL means in real life and doesn't say you've stepped away, so it doesn't work with for five minutes.
Write a message to the friends you're gaming or texting with to say you're stepping away for a bit. Say how long for and why.
afk for fifteen minutes, I have to walk the dog before it gets dark.
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