Go off Meaning in English
expression
ˈɡoʊ/ /ˈɔf
GOH-awf
ɡˈəʊ/ /ˈɒf
guh-OHF
Definition
A phrasal verb with several common meanings: to make a sudden loud sound (like an alarm), to explode, to stop working (lights/machines), or for food to become bad or spoiled.
Usage & Nuances
Informal, used in everyday speech. Typical with 'alarm', 'bomb', 'lights', and food. 'The alarm goes off' means it starts making noise. For food, 'go off' means it is no longer safe to eat. Context decides the meaning.
Spanish: sonar (alarma) - explotar - apagarse (luces/máquinas) - estropearse (comida)Portuguese (BR): disparar (alarme/arma) - explodir - desligar (luz/máquina) - estragar (comida)Portuguese (PT): disparar (alarme/arma) - explodir - desligar (luz/máquina) - estragar-se (comida)Chinese (Simplified): 响起（闹钟/警报）- 爆炸 - 熄灭（灯/电器）- 变质（食物）Chinese (Traditional): 響起（鬧鐘/警報）- 爆炸 - 熄滅（燈/電器）- 變質（食物）Hindi: बजना (घड़ी/अलार्म) - फटना - बंद हो जाना (लाइट/मशीन) - खराब हो जाना (खाना)Arabic: ينطلق (منبّه/إنذار) - ينفجر - ينطفئ (ضوء/آلة) - يفسد (طعام)Bengali: বাজা (আলাদী শব্দ), বিস্ফোরিত হওয়া, বন্ধ হয়ে যাওয়া (যন্ত্রপাতি), পচে যাওয়া (খাবার)Russian: сработать (о сигнале) - взорваться - выключиться - испортиться (о еде)Japanese: 鳴る - 爆発する - 消える - 腐るVietnamese: reo lên (chuông/báo thức) - nổ (bom) - tắt (đèn/máy móc) - bị hỏng (đồ ăn)Korean: 울리다 (알람/경보) - 폭발하다 - 꺼지다 - 상하다 (음식)Turkish: çalmak (alarm) - patlamak (bomba) - sönmek (ışık) - bozulmak (yiyecek)Urdu: بجنا (الارم/گھنٹی) - پھٹنا (بم) - بند ہونا (روشنی/مشین) - خراب ہونا (کھانا)Indonesian: berbunyi (alarm) - meledak - mati (lampu/alat) - basi (makanan)
Example Sentences
My alarm goes off at 6 a.m. every day.
basic
Be careful! That bomb could go off at any moment.
basic
The lights suddenly went off during the storm.
basic
My milk has gone off—it smells terrible!
natural
The fire alarm went off just as I was getting out of the shower.
natural
Sorry I didn't answer—my phone went off and I didn't hear it.
natural