# buzz off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

You use this to tell someone to go away because they are annoying you. It is a rude but not very aggressive way to say 'leave me alone'.

For teachers: An intransitive phrasal verb used as an imperative to dismiss someone or tell them to leave. Informal in register; often used to express annoyance or impatience.

## Examples

- Buzz off and let me finish my work!
- When the younger brother kept asking questions, his sister told him to buzz off so she could study in peace.
- Although the reporter was persistent, the celebrity's bodyguard curtly told him to buzz off before the situation escalated further.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I told him to buzz off from the room." but "I told him to buzz off." — The verb is intransitive and does not take a prepositional phrase like 'from the room' to indicate the place being left.

## Usage notes

- Usually used as a command to tell someone to leave immediately.
- Teaching tip: Compare with 'go away' and 'get lost'; 'buzz off' is informal and dismissive but slightly less harsh than 'get lost'.

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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.