# burn off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/burn-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to use up energy or fat by doing physical activity.

For teachers: to expend energy, calories, or fat through metabolic processes or physical exertion.

## Examples

- I need to burn off that big lunch.
- Running for thirty minutes is a great way to burn off extra calories from the weekend.
- Athletes often consume high-carbohydrate meals before a race, knowing they will burn off the energy during the intense physical competition.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I burned off it at the gym." but "I burned it off at the gym." — when using a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- usually takes 'calories', 'fat', or 'energy' as a direct object.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'burn down' (destroy by fire) or 'burn out' (stop working); 'burn off' implies a process of elimination through use.

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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.