Give off means to produce a smell, heat, light or gas. The second meaning is to create an impression, to show a certain quality: give off an air of confidence. In everyday speech, people also use it with vibe: He gives off a friendly vibe.
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give off + heat/light/smell/gas; give off + an air of + noun; give off a friendly/calm vibe
- This small heater gives off enough heat to warm the whole bedroom.
- The milk had been left out all day and was giving off a sour smell.
- Even on her first day, the new manager gave off an air of calm confidence.
What changed
First versionThis small heater gives off a lot of warm, so we rarely turn on the central heating.
RevisionThis small heater gives off a lot of heat, so we rarely turn on the central heating.
Warm is an adjective, so it can't follow a lot of. After give off, you name what is being produced, so you need a noun: heat or warmth.
Give off and give away can both be about what you notice in a person, but they mean different things. Give off is about the impression someone creates: She gives off an air of calm. Give away means to reveal something they were trying to hide: Her shaking hands gave away how nervous she was.
Your turn
Nobody wanted to sit near the bin because it was ___ a horrible smell.
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giving off — A horrible smell was coming from the bin, and producing a smell is give off: it was giving off a horrible smell. Give away means 'to give something for free' or 'to reveal a secret'; nobody says it about a smell.
Describe a place you remember because of its smell: a kitchen, a market, a forest or a café. Say what exactly the smell came from and what it was like.
In my grandmother's kitchen, the fresh bread on the table always gave off a sweet, warm smell.
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