Cool MateLeave vs Off with you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Leave
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Off with you
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: LeaveMost common: Leave
| Leave | Off with you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/liːv/","/liːvz/","/left/","/ˈliːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/liːv/","/liːvz/","/left/","/ˈliːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɒf wɪð juː//🇺🇸 //ɔf wɪð ju// |
| Meaning | to go away from a place | Go away from here. |
| Example | I will leave the house at 8 AM. | He just told her, 'Off with you!' when she asked too many questions. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | decide to, intend to, plan to, for, decide to, intend to, plan to, for, decide to, intend to, plan to, for | tell off with you, say off with you |
| Antonyms | arrive, stay | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'leave' as in 'not taking something' vs 'leave' meaning to depart., Using 'leave' without an object when the sentence requires one, e.g., 'leave the party.', Mixing up 'leave' with 'let' in phrases. | Using it in formal conversations., Misinterpreting it as a kind invitation. |
| Usage notes | Use 'leave' when departing from a location or letting go of something. Avoid in very formal writing where terms like 'depart' might be preferred. | Used to dismiss someone in a casual or slightly rude manner. Not appropriate in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Leave vs Off with you
What's the difference between Leave and Off with you?
Leave: to go away from a place Off with you: Go away from here.
Which is more formal: Leave and Off with you?
Leave is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Leave and Off with you?
Leave is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Leave: I will leave the house at 8 AM. Off with you: He just told her, 'Off with you!' when she asked too many questions.
Can I use Leave and Off with you interchangeably?
Not always. Leave 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.