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1. Definition + Rich Everyday Explanation
Push off (phrasal verb) = to leave a place suddenly or casually, often in a slightly rude or impatient way; to push something or someone away with your hands or feet; OR (nautical/sports) to use your foot or an oar to move a boat away from the shore or another object.
The most common everyday meaning is when someone says “push off” to tell you to go away — it’s a sharp, informal way of saying “get lost” or “leave me alone.” Think of a friend who’s annoyed: “Just push off, will you?” It can sound playful among close friends or quite rude to strangers. Physically, it means giving something a shove to move it away, like pushing a boat off from the dock or shoving someone away in an argument. People mostly use it in spoken English for quick, emotional exits or dismissals.
MEANING 1: Leave / Go Away (Informal / Often Rude) — VERY COMMON
This is the dominant modern use, especially in British English. “Push off” is a direct command to leave. It feels abrupt and can be cheeky, irritated, or joking depending on tone. Friends might say it laughing; strangers might find it offensive. It’s stronger than “go away” but less aggressive than “piss off” or “fuck off.” Americans use it less frequently — they prefer “get lost” or “beat it.”
MEANING 2: Physically Push Something Away
Literally, to use force to move an object or person away from you or from a surface. You might push a car off the road if it’s broken down, or push someone off you if they’re too close. In water sports or boating, it means using your foot or paddle to shove the boat away from land to start moving.
Examples from the street:
- “Push off, I’m trying to concentrate!” → go away; leave me alone right now
- “Right, time to push off” → okay, I’m leaving now (casual goodbye)
- “He pushed me off the couch” → he shoved me away physically
2. Most Common Patterns
Push off as leave / go away — VERY COMMON
- push off! → rude/impatient command to leave
- push off + now / then → go away immediately or soon
- time to push off → casual way to say goodbye/leave
- push off and + verb → leave and do something else
Push off as physical movement
- push + someone/something + off + surface → shove away from a place
- push off + from + boat/shore → nautical start moving
3. Phrasal Verbs
Note: “Push off” is itself the main phrasal verb — here are close related ones:
- push away → reject or distance yourself emotionally or physically
Example: “She keeps pushing people away when they try to help.” - shove off → very similar to push off; leave, often more rude
Example: “Why don’t you just shove off and leave us alone?” - get off → leave or stop bothering someone (very common alternative)
Example: “Get off my back — I don’t need your advice!”
4. Example Sentences
- “Push off!” he shouted when the stranger got too close
→ He yelled for the unknown person to go away immediately. - I’m tired of this conversation — time to push off
→ I’ve had enough of talking; it’s time for me to leave. - She pushed him off the bed when he started snoring too loudly
→ She shoved him away from the sleeping area because of the noise. - Right, lads, let’s push off before it starts raining
→ Okay guys, we should leave now to avoid getting wet. - The rower pushed off from the dock with one strong stroke
→ The person in the boat moved away from the pier using powerful force. - “Push off and stop bothering me!” she snapped
→ She spoke sharply, telling the person to leave her in peace. - He pushed the cart off the pavement into the road
→ He shoved the trolley away from the sidewalk onto the street. - Well, I should push off — got an early start tomorrow
→ I need to go now because I have to wake up early the next day. - The kids pushed off on their bikes laughing
→ The children rode away quickly while enjoying themselves. - She pushed him off when he tried to hug her
→ She forcefully moved him away during the attempted embrace.
5. Personal Examples
- When students start chatting off-topic during speaking practice, I sometimes say “push off with that” jokingly — then gently bring them back to English
→ During oral exercises, if learners drift into unrelated talk, I playfully tell them to stop that — afterwards I redirect them to practicing the language. - After a long lesson, I tell the class “time to push off” — everyone smiles and heads home feeling good
→ When the class finishes after extended teaching, I announce it’s time to leave — students grin and depart in a positive mood.
6. Register: Informal / Colloquial
✔ Native usage tips
- Push off is very British — sounds natural and cheeky in the UK, but can confuse or offend Americans who hear it as old-fashioned or rude
- Tone changes everything: said with a smile among friends = playful; said angrily to a stranger = quite insulting
- Often shortened to just “off” in very casual speech: “Oh, off you go then!”
- More common in spoken than written English — you’ll hear it in pubs, among mates, or in family arguments
- Avoid in formal or professional situations — it can sound unprofessional or aggressive
- In Australia/New Zealand it’s also very common and carries the same cheeky tone
✔ Similar expressions / words
- Get lost → direct American equivalent; equally rude/impatient
- Shove off → almost identical, slightly stronger/ruder in some contexts
- Beat it → very casual American way to say leave; often sounds more street/tough
