off and on Definition

off
adverb

1. Away; at or to a distance.

Thesaurus: behind, ahead, beside, aside, beneath, below, afar, above, apart.
2. In or into a position which is not attached; loose; separate.

Example: The handle came off
3. colloq
Ahead in time.
Example: Easter is a week off
4. In or into a state of no longer working or operating; not on.

Example: Turn the radio off
5. In or into a state of being stopped or cancelled.

Example: The match was rained off
6. In or into a state of sleep.

Example: nodded off
7. To the end, so as to be completely finished.

Example: Finish the work off
8. Away from work or one's duties.

Example: Take an hour off
9. Away from a course; aside.

Example: Turn off into a side street
10. Situated as regards money.

Example: well off
Example: badly off

adj

1. Said of an electrical device: not functioning or operating; disconnected; not on.

Example: The radio was off
2. Cancelled; not taking place.

Example: The meeting's off
Thesaurus: canceled, postponed, shelved.
3. originally naut.
Most distant; furthest away.
4. Said of the side of a vehicle, etc: nearest the centre of the road, ie on the right in the UK.
5. Not good; not up to standard.

Example: an off day
Thesaurus: bad, wrong, confused, below par, erring.
6. cricket.
On the side of the field towards which the batsman's feet are pointing, usually the bowler's left. Opposite of on (adj 6).
7. In a restaurant, on a menu, etc: no longer available as a choice.

Example: Peas are off
8. Said especially of food or drink: in a state of decay; gone bad or sour.

Example: The milk was off

prep

1. From or away from something.

Example: Lift it off the shelf
2. Removed from or no longer attached to something.
3. Opening out of, leading from, or not far from something.

Example: a side street off the main road
4. Not wanting or no longer attracted by something.

Example: off one's food
Example: go off him
5. No longer using something, etc.

Example: be off the tablets
6. Not up to the usual standard of something.

Example: off one's game
7. Out to sea from (a specified country, area of land, etc).

Example: off the coast of Spain

noun

1. The start, eg of a race or journey.

Example: ready for the off
Form: the off (usually)
2. cricket.
The side of a field towards which the batsman's feet are pointing, usually the bowler's left.

Idiom: a bit off

colloq
Said of behaviour, etc: unacceptable or unfair.

Idiom: off and on

Now and then; occasionally.
Thesaurus: occasionally, now and then, now and again, seldom, sometimes, from time to time, once in a while, periodically, sporadically; Antonym: continuously, without letup.

Idiom: off one's face

Slightly mad.

Very drunk.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon of away.