English Reference

Phrasal verb

have off

Definition

phrasal verb. to have a period of time when you do not have to work or go to school.

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

Examples

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

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

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

Examples

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.”

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'.

Phrasal verb

Particles

off

Separability

separable

Pattern

have + object + off

Synonyms

be offtake a breaktake leave

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/have-off

English Reference