English Reference

Phrasal verb

bounce off

Definition

phrasal verb. You use this when you tell someone your ideas or plans to see what they think about them.

phrasal verb. To share an idea or proposal with someone to elicit feedback or evaluate its viability. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the idea and a prepositional object representing the person.

Examples

“Can I bounce a few ideas off you for the party?”

“He spent the afternoon bouncing marketing strategies off his manager to prepare for the big presentation.”

“The lead architect preferred to bounce preliminary sketches off the engineering team before committing to a final design.”

Examples

simple

“Can I bounce a few ideas off you for the party?”

contextual

“He spent the afternoon bouncing marketing strategies off his manager to prepare for the big presentation.”

complex

“The lead architect preferred to bounce preliminary sketches off the engineering team before committing to a final design.”

Usage

This phrase almost always follows the pattern 'bounce [something] off [someone]'.

Teaching tip

Use the metaphor of a ball hitting a wall and returning to explain how feedback works in this context.

Pitfall

I want to bounce off an idea to you.

I want to bounce an idea off you.

The direct object must come before the particle 'off' when using this phrase to mean sharing an idea.

Phrasal verb

Particles

off

Separability

separable

Pattern

bounce + object + off + person

Synonyms

run bytest outsharediscuss

Antonyms

withholdconceal

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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