Come off meaning
Come off means to become separated from the thing it was fixed to. It can also mean to fall from a bike, a horse or a board.
come off something
come off · came · come · coming
A button came off my coat.
Come off meanings and examples
4 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Become separated from the thing it was fixed to
come off something
- A button came off my coat.
- The handle came off in my hand!
- Does this lid come off?
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2
Fall from a bike, a horse or a board
come off somebody or something
- She came off her bike on the ice.
- He came off the horse but wasn’t hurt.
- I came off my skateboard and hurt my knee.
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3
Happen as planned, or be successful
come off
- The plan didn’t come off.
- Their big wedding finally came off in June.
- If the deal comes off, we’ll be rich.
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4
Seem to be a certain way to other people
come off
- He comes off as a bit rude in emails.
- I didn’t want to come off too strong.
- How did I come off in the video?
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use come off in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is come off separable?
Come off is not separable. The thing it leaves comes after off: come off my coat, come off the bike. In meanings 3 and 4 there is no object.
Come off can also mean stop taking a medicine: The doctor says I can come off the tablets next month.
Verb tenses for come off
| Present | I come off · she comes off |
|---|---|
| Past | came off |
| Present perfect | have come off |
| -ing form | coming off |
Common mistakes with come off
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: The button went off my shirt.
Right: The button came off my shirt.
For parts that fall off, use come off.
Wrong: She came down from her bike on the ice.
Right: She came off her bike on the ice.
For falling from a bike or horse, say come off or fall off.
Wrong: He comes off like rude.
Right: He comes off as rude.
Use as before an adjective.
Synonyms and opposites of come off
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- fall offdrop from a surface or a bike
- come acrossseem to be a certain kind of person
- work outbe successful in the end
Opposite
- stay onremain fixed in place
- fall throughfail to happen, for a plan or a deal
Come off quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Oh no, a button has ___ my shirt.
A button comes off when it separates from the shirt.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use come off as plus an adjective.
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3We planned a surprise party, but it didn’t ___. She found out.
A plan comes off when it works.
More phrasal verbs with come
All phrasal verbs with come, by level, with an exercise
15 phrasal verbs start with come. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- come fromA1be born in, or live in, a place
- come backA2return to the place where you are or the speaker is
- come inA2enter a room or building, towards the speaker
- come downA2move down to a lower place, towards the speaker
- come up withB1think of an idea, a plan or an answer
- come outB1become available to buy, watch or read, like a book or film
- come overB1visit someone at their home
- come onB1tell someone to hurry or to try harder
- come aroundB1visit someone at their home
- come alongB1go somewhere with someone
- come acrossB2find or meet something or someone by chance
- come upB2be mentioned or talked about
- come apartC2break into pieces
- come throughC2arrive or be officially approved, like a visa or results
Come off FAQ
Questions people ask about come off.
What does come off it mean?
Come off it! is an informal, mostly British way to say I don’t believe you: Come off it, you’ve never been to Japan!
What is the difference between come off and come across?
Both can mean seem. Come off as is more American and often negative: He came off as rude. Come across as is common everywhere.
Can come off mean be removed by cleaning?
Yes: This pen comes off with water. The paint won’t come off my hands.
Use come off in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.