# bite off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bite-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to use your teeth to cut or remove a piece of something.

For teachers: To separate a portion from a larger whole using the teeth. The verb is transitive and permits the object to appear between the base verb and the particle.

## Examples

- The child tries to bite off a piece of the cookie.
- The dog managed to bite off a small piece of the toy before I could stop him.
- The predator was able to bite off a significant portion of the carcass, carrying it away to feed its young in the safety of the den.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He bit of a piece of bread." but "He bit off a piece of bread." — Learners often confuse the particle 'off' with the preposition 'of' due to their similar sounds.

## Usage notes

- It is frequently used when talking about food or animals eating.
- Teaching tip: Focus on the literal physical action before introducing the common idiom 'bite off more than you can chew'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.