# dash off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to write or draw something very quickly because you are in a rush, or to leave a place suddenly.

For teachers: to produce a piece of writing or a sketch rapidly and without much thought; alternatively, to depart from a location in great haste. The verb is transitive in its 'writing' sense and intransitive in its 'departure' sense.

## Examples

- I'll dash off a quick note to let them know we're coming.
- After the meeting ended, he had to dash off to catch the last train home.
- The composer was said to dash off his most famous overtures in a matter of hours, often finishing the final bars just as the orchestra arrived.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I dashed off the building." but "I dashed out of the building." — When used to mean leaving, 'dash off' is intransitive and cannot be followed directly by the place you are leaving.

## Usage notes

- The phrase is often used with nouns like 'note', 'email', or 'reply'.
- Teaching tip: Contrast the 'writing' sense with 'scribble' to show that 'dash off' implies speed and completion rather than just messy handwriting.

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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.