ENGLISH
REFERENCE

doze off

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to fall into a light sleep without meaning to, especially during the day.

phr. v.. to fall into a light sleep unintentionally, often while in a seated position or during a period of inactivity.


SIMPLE

I often doze off while watching a movie.

CONTEXTUAL

The lecture was so boring that several students started to doze off in the back row.

COMPLEX

After a long day of hiking, he sat by the fire and gradually dozed off despite the loud conversation around him.

Particles
off
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
doze + off
Usage

usually describes a short, light sleep rather than a deep night's rest.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'nod off' (which implies the physical movement of the head dropping) and 'fall asleep' (which is more general and often intentional).

Pitfall

I dozed off the meeting.I dozed off during the meeting.this phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot take a direct object; you must use a preposition like 'during' or 'in'.

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