put off

phrasal verb [transitive]
Word forms "put off":
present tense I/you/we/they put off he/she/it puts off present participle putting off past tense put off past participle put off

1) to make someone not want to do something, or to make someone not like someone or something

Lack of parking space was putting potential customers off.

Robert's attitude towards women really puts me off.

put someone off someone/something:

I put him off the idea of going shopping with me.

put someone off doing something:

All this rain really puts you off going out after work.

2) to delay doing something, especially because you do not want to do it

I was trying to put off the moment when I would have to leave.

You can't put the decision off any longer.

put off doing something:

He was glad to have an excuse to put off telling her the news.

3) to change the time or date of something so that it happens later than originally planned, especially because of a problem

They had to put the wedding off because the bride's mother had an accident.

put off doing something:

I'll put off going to Scotland until you're well enough to look after yourself again.

4) to tell someone that you cannot see them or do something until a later time

We'll have to put George off if your mother's coming on Thursday.

5)

a) to prevent someone from concentrating on something so that they have difficulty doing it

Stop laughing – you'll put her off.

b) put someone off their stride/stroke to stop someone from thinking clearly

He was determined not to be put off his stroke by her presence.

6) to switch off a machine or piece of equipment

Please put off the television and do your homework.

7) to stop a car, bus etc and let someone get out of it

I'll put you off by the bus stop.