Take off means to remove something you are wearing, such as clothes, shoes or glasses, or to leave the ground and start flying. In the first meaning, you can say “take off your coat” or “take your coat off”. The second is about planes: The plane took off at six.
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take off + clothes/shoes; take it off; the plane takes off; take + day/week + off
- Please take off your shoes before you come into the flat.
- Our flight took off an hour late because of the fog.
What changed
First versionIt's warm in here, so you can put off your jacket.
RevisionIt's warm in here, so you can take off your jacket.
“Put on” means to start wearing something, so its opposite may seem to be “put off”. But “put off” means to postpone: “put off a meeting”. For clothes and shoes, use “take off”.
About a business or a career, “take off” means to suddenly become very successful: After one viral video, her small bakery really took off. And “take a day off” means to have a day away from work: I'm taking Friday off.
Your turn
When I got home, I ___ my wet boots and left them by the door.
Show the answer
took off — The boots were removed and left by the door, so “took off” fits. “Put off” means to postpone and has nothing to do with shoes.
Describe your first minutes at home after work or classes. Say what you take off and where you hang or put it.
When I get home, I take off my jacket and hang it on the hook by the door.
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