ENGLISH
REFERENCE

keep off

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford General-service

phr. v.. to stay away from a place or to avoid touching something. you also use this to tell someone not to walk on a specific area, like grass.

phr. v.. to refrain from entering, walking upon, or touching a specific area or substance; frequently used in the imperative for prohibitions.


SIMPLE

Please keep off the grass.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor told him to keep off his injured leg for at least a week to let it heal.

COMPLEX

Security personnel were instructed to keep off any unauthorized individuals from the restricted perimeter during the high-profile summit.

Particles
off
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
keep + off + object
Usage

often used as a command on signs or in medical advice regarding physical strain.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'stay off' which is more passive; 'keep off' often implies a rule or a deliberate effort to avoid contact.

Pitfall

Keep off from the grass.Keep off the grass.the verb is followed directly by the object without the extra preposition 'from'.

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