Phrasal verb
come off
In Japanese
to come off (of a button, handle, lid, etc.)
ボタンが１つとれましたよ。
One of your buttons has come off. Tatoeba
to peel off; to come off; to flake off
to peel off; to come off; to be taken off
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definitions
01to become detached
B1 · Intermediate
phr.v. to become separated or fall away from something it was attached to.
phr.v. to become detached or separated from a main body or surface.
“The handle of the cup came off while I was washing it.”
“The label had started to peel at the corners and eventually came off entirely after being exposed to the damp air in the warehouse.”
Usage
Intransitive; the subject is the part that detaches.
02to succeed
B2 · Upper Intermediate British English
phr.v. to happen successfully, especially when you have planned something.
phr.v. to be successful or to be achieved as intended; often used of schemes, plans, or performances.
“I was worried about the surprise party, but it really came off well.”
“Despite the logistical hurdles and the last-minute cancellations, the ambitious charity gala came off without a single major hitch.”
Usage
Intransitive; usually follows a subject like 'plan', 'scheme', or 'event'.
03to seem or appear
B2 · Upper Intermediate
phr.v. to give a particular impression of your personality to other people.
phr.v. to project a specific personal quality or to be perceived by others in a particular way.
“He can come off as a bit arrogant, but he is actually just shy.”
“In interviews, the candidate tended to come off as overly defensive whenever the panel questioned her previous employment record.”
Usage
Usually followed by 'as' plus an adjective or noun phrase.
Pitfall
He comes off as a rude person.
He comes off as rude.
While both are used, 'come off as' is most naturally followed directly by an adjective or a noun phrase describing the quality.
04to stop using something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Informal
phr.v. to stop taking a medicine or using a drug.
phr.v. to cease the consumption of a medication, drug, or habit-forming substance.
“The doctor helped him come off the painkillers gradually.”
“Patients are advised not to come off their antidepressants abruptly without consulting a healthcare professional first.”
Usage
Transitive; requires a direct object representing the substance.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “come off” in context.
Verb
01. hope the plan comes off
“I really hope the plan comes off because we have invested a lot of money in it.”
verb + that-clause
02. manage to come off
“It was a risky strategy, but it managed to come off in the end.”
verb + infinitive
03. watch the deal come off
“The investors were excited to watch the deal come off after months of negotiation.”
verb + noun + infinitive
Adverb
04. brilliantly come off
“The surprise party brilliantly came off without the guest of honor suspecting a thing.”
adv + verb
05. come off well
“The presentation came off well despite the technical issues at the start.”
verb + adv
06. never come off
“We had grand plans for a summer road trip, but they never came off.”
adv + verb
Teaching tip
contrast with 'succeed' (more general) and 'happen' (neutral); 'come off' specifically implies that a planned effort worked out.
Phrasal verb
Particles
off
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + come + off
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- 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 C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0