put off
[verb]
Synonyms:
- postpone, defer, delay, hold over, put on the back burner (informal), take a rain check on (U.S. & Canad. informal)
- disconcert, confuse, discomfit, dismay, faze, nonplus, perturb, throw (informal), unsettle
- discourage, dishearten, dissuade

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Antonyms: put on
Related Idioms: drag one's feet, lay on the table, let the matter stand

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English Thesaurus: delay, postpone, put off, hold off, defer, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

put somebody/something off phrasal verb (see also put)

1. put something ↔ off to delay doing something or to arrange to do something at a later time or date, especially because there is a problem or you do not want to do it now Synonym : delay, procrastinate:
The match has been put off until tomorrow because of bad weather.
put off doing something
I put off going to the doctor but I wish I hadn’t.

2. put somebody ↔ off British English to make you dislike something or not want to do something:
Don’t let the restaurant’s decor put you off – the food is really good.
put somebody off (doing) something
Don’t let your failures put you off trying harder.

3. put somebody off to make someone wait because you do not want to meet them, pay them etc until later Synonym : stall:
When he calls, put him off as long as you can.

4. put somebody off (something) British English to make it difficult for someone to pay attention to what they are doing by talking, making a noise, moving etc:
It puts me off when you watch me all the time.

5. put somebody off (something) British English to let someone leave a vehicle at a particular place:
I’ll put you off at the supermarket.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

delay to wait until a later time to do something:
He decided to delay his decision until he had seen the full report.
postpone to change an event to a later time or date:
The meeting was postponed.
put off to delay doing something. Put off is less formal than delay or postpone, and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English:
I used to put off making difficult decisions.
The game has been put off till next week.
hold off to delay doing something, especially while you are waiting for more information or for something else to happen:
House buyers seem to be holding off until interest rates drop.
defer formal to delay doing something until a later date, usually because something else needs to happen first:
The decision had been deferred until after a meeting of the directors.
She decided to defer her university application for a year so that she could go travelling.
procrastinate /prəˈkræstəneɪt, prəˈkræstɪneɪt/ formal to delay doing something that you ought to do:
Don’t procrastinate – make a start on your assignments as soon as you get them.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

dislike to not like someone or something. Dislike is stronger than not like, and is used especially in written English:
She disliked him as soon as she met him.
Chemistry was the only subject he disliked at school.
not like:
Why did you invite Claire? You know I don’t like her.
I don’t really like getting up in the morning when it’s dark.
not be very keen on something informal (also not be very fond of something) especially British English used to say that you do not like something, but in a polite or gentle way:
I’m not very keen on Chinese food.
She’s never been very fond of his books.
not think much of somebody/something to not like someone or something because you do not have a good opinion of them:
We’ve tried that restaurant twice and we don’t think much of it.
I worked with him for years and I didn’t think much of him.
not be sb’s kind of thing (also not be sb’s cup of tea) informal to not be the kind of thing you enjoy – used about activities, films, books etc:
Detective stories aren’t really my kind of thing.
go off somebody/something British English informal to stop liking someone or something that you used to like:
Dan and I went out together for six months and then I just went off him.
put somebody off somebody/something British English to make you stop liking someone or something:
I was terrible at sport at school and it totally put me off doing any kind of exercise.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

postpone verb [transitive] to change the date or time of a planned event or action to a later one:
The game was postponed because of heavy snow.
We had to postpone the trip because of my father’s illness.
The trial has been postponed until November.
put something off phrasal verb [transitive] to decide to do something later than you planned to do it or later than you should do it, especially because there is a problem or because you do not want to do it now:
I really should go to the dentist, but I keep putting it off.
The concert’s been put off till next week.
The committee decided to put off making any decision until the new year.
delay verb [transitive] to not do something until something else has happened or until a more suitable time:
He decided to delay his departure until after he’d seen the Director.
Police delayed making any announcement until the girl’s relatives had been contacted.
procrastinate verb [intransitive] formal to delay doing something that you ought to do, usually because you do not want to do it – used especially to show disapproval:
Kerry procrastinated for as long as possible before firing anyone.
He had been procrastinating over starting the work.
be pushed/moved/put back if an event is pushed back, someone arranges for it to be held at a later time or date than originally planned:
Their meeting has been put back to next Thursday.
The museum’s opening date was pushed back so that safety checks could be carried out.
The game on April 1 has been moved back to April 5.
shelve verb [transitive] to decide not to continue with a plan, project etc now although it may be considered again at some time in the future:
Plans for a new stadium have been shelved for now.
The city shelved the project due to lack of funding.
put something on ice/put something on the back burner to decide not to continue with a plan, project etc until a later time. These expressions are rather informal and are often used in business English:
The project has had to be put on ice due to lack of funding.
Blears called for the discussions to be put on ice until after the elections.
The plan seems to have been put on the back burner.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

put off
1. •put (someone) off
to make someone feel uneasy, to avoid responding to someone
He put me off with his complaints about our company.

2. • put off (someone or something)
to cause a bad feeling for someone, to repel someone
He put off the other members of the class by complaining all of the time.

3. • put off (something)
to postpone/delay something
They put off the game because of the rain.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

put off something
1. • put off (something)
to postpone/delay something
They put off the game because of the rain.

2. • put off (someone or something)
to cause a bad feeling for someone, to repel someone
He put off the other members of the class by complaining all of the time.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

put off
v.
1. informal To cause confusion in; embarrass; displease.
I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his proposal.
The man's slovenliness put me off.
2. To wait and have (something) at a later time; postpone.
They put off the picnic because of the rain.
3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside.
When he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off.
When the bill collector called, Mrs. Smith managed to put him off.
4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract.
Little Jeannie began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to put her off.
5. To move out to sea; leave shore.
They put off in small boats to meet the coming ship.
Synonym: PUT OUT.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲