# go off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to explode, make a loud noise, or stop being fresh. You use this when an alarm rings, a bomb explodes, or milk turns sour.

For teachers: to discharge or detonate; to emit a loud signal; or to undergo spoilage. This phrasal verb is intransitive in these senses and covers several distinct semantic fields including weaponry, electronics, and food safety.

## Examples

- My alarm went off at six this morning.
- The milk has gone off because someone left it out on the counter overnight.
- Security forces evacuated the building immediately after the fire alarm went off, fearing that a suspicious package might also go off.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The bomb was gone off." but "The bomb went off." — this phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive voice.

## Usage notes

- used without a direct object; the subject is usually an alarm, a bomb, or food.
- Teaching tip: this is a highly polysemous phrasal verb; use a matching game to help students distinguish between the 'noise' sense and the 'spoiled food' sense.

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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.