Cool MateGet lost vs Off with you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Get lost
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Off with you
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Get lost
| Get lost | Off with you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡɛt lɒst//🇺🇸 //ɡɛt lɔst// | 🇬🇧 //ɒf wɪð juː//🇺🇸 //ɔf wɪð ju// |
| Meaning | To go away or leave. | Go away from here. |
| Example | When I asked him to stop bothering me, he told me to get lost. | He just told her, 'Off with you!' when she asked too many questions. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | get lost in thought, get lost somewhere, tell someone to get lost | tell off with you, say off with you |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal situations., Confusing it with 'lost' as a past tense., Incorrectly assuming it has a literal meaning. | Using it in formal conversations., Misinterpreting it as a kind invitation. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in casual conversation. Can be impolite if directed at someone. Avoid in formal contexts. | Used to dismiss someone in a casual or slightly rude manner. Not appropriate in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Get lost vs Off with you
What's the difference between Get lost and Off with you?
Get lost: To go away or leave. Off with you: Go away from here.
Which is more common: Get lost and Off with you?
Get lost is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Get lost: When I asked him to stop bothering me, he told me to get lost. Off with you: He just told her, 'Off with you!' when she asked too many questions.
Can I use Get lost and Off with you interchangeably?
Not always. Get lost and Off with you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.