# marry off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/marry-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to find a husband or wife for someone, usually a child, so they can leave home and start their own life. You use this when parents or relatives arrange the wedding.

For teachers: to arrange the marriage of another person, typically a dependent, often with the implication of discharging a responsibility or securing a social advantage. This transitive verb allows the object to be placed either before or after the particle 'off'.

## Examples

- The parents hope to marry off their eldest son next year.
- In the 19th century, families often tried to marry off their daughters to wealthy landowners to secure their financial future.
- The plot revolves around a widow's frantic attempts to marry off her four daughters before the family estate is reclaimed by a distant cousin.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They tried to marry off her quickly." but "They tried to marry her off quickly." — When the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- This phrase often suggests that the person being married has little say in the decision.
- Teaching tip: Highlight the 'off' particle as indicating a sense of completion or 'sending away', similar to 'sell off' or 'send off'.

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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.