# jump off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jump-off
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to leap down

phrasal verb · CEFR A2

to move from a high place to a lower place by jumping.

For teachers: to propel oneself from an elevated surface to a lower one. This phrasal verb is typically intransitive but often takes a prepositional phrase starting with 'of' or 'from'.

- The children liked to jump off the low wall into the sand pit.
- The stunt performer had to jump off the moving truck and land precisely on the safety mat hidden behind the crates.

Usage: Often followed by 'of' or 'from' to indicate the starting point.

### 2. to start happening

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to start or happen suddenly, especially something exciting like a party or a fight.

For teachers: to begin or occur, often with a sense of suddenness or high energy. This usage is intransitive and restricted to informal or slang contexts.

- The party really started to jump off once the DJ arrived.
- The atmosphere in the stadium was tense, and everyone knew the protest would jump off the moment the gates opened.

Usage: Intransitive; does not take a direct object.

Teaching tip: This is very common in hip-hop culture and urban dialects; learners should use it only in very casual settings.

### 3. equestrian tie-breaker

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a final round in a horse-jumping competition to decide the winner.

For teachers: a deciding round in equestrian showjumping used to determine a winner among competitors who have tied with a clean first round.

- The two riders were tied, so they had to compete in a jump-off.
- After three riders finished the main course without penalties, the gold medal was decided by a high-speed jump-off.

Usage: Usually hyphenated when used as a noun.

## Examples

- The children jump off the wall into the sand.
- He had to jump off the bus before it started moving again.
- The stuntman prepared to jump off the ledge, ensuring his safety harness was securely fastened before the cameras began rolling.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'jump over' (passing across something) and 'jump on' (landing on a surface); 'jump off' focuses on the departure from the high point.

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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.