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REFERENCE

have off

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford General-service Informal

phr. v.. to have a period of time when you do not have to work or go to school.

phr. v.. to be excused from work or duty for a specific duration; typically used with a time expression as the object or as a modifier.


SIMPLE

I have tomorrow off so let's go to the beach.

CONTEXTUAL

She asked her manager if she could have Friday off to attend her sister's wedding.

COMPLEX

The entire department was allowed to have the afternoon off following the successful completion of the merger negotiations.

Particles
off
Separability
separable
Pattern
have + object + off
Usage

usually takes a time period as the object between 'have' and 'off'.

Teaching tip

this is a transitive phrasal verb where the object (the time period) almost always separates the verb and particle; contrast with 'take off' which implies the act of requesting or starting the break.

Pitfall

I have off tomorrow.I have tomorrow off.while 'have off' is used in some dialects, standard English usually places the time period between 'have' and 'off'.

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