English Reference

Phrasal verb

cock off

Definition

phrasal verb. to go away or leave. You use this as a very rude way to tell someone to leave you alone because you are angry with them.

phrasal verb. To depart or leave, primarily used as a vulgar imperative to dismiss an interlocutor. The phrase is intransitive and functions as a more aggressive alternative to 'bugger off'.

Examples

“He tells the annoying salesman to cock off.”

“After the argument in the pub, he just told his friends to cock off and walked home alone.”

“The script relies heavily on regional dialect, with characters frequently telling one another to cock off during heated confrontations.”

Examples

simple

“He tells the annoying salesman to cock off.”

contextual

“After the argument in the pub, he just told his friends to cock off and walked home alone.”

complex

“The script relies heavily on regional dialect, with characters frequently telling one another to cock off during heated confrontations.”

Usage

This is a vulgar British expression used almost exclusively as a rude dismissal.

Teaching tip

Contrast this with 'bugger off' and 'piss off' to help students navigate the hierarchy of British dismissals.

Pitfall

I'm tired, so I'll cock off now.

I'm tired, so I'll head off now.

Learners may mistake this for a neutral way to say they are leaving, but it is actually a vulgar dismissal.

Phrasal verb

Particles

off

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

cock + off

Synonyms

get lostbugger offpiss offfuck off

Antonyms

stayremain

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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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English Reference