# ring off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to end a phone call by hanging up. You use this when you finish talking and put the phone down.

For teachers: to terminate a telephone conversation by breaking the connection. The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

## Examples

- I have to ring off now because someone is at the door.
- He apologized for having to ring off so abruptly, explaining that his train was entering a tunnel.
- After a brief and somewhat frosty exchange regarding the contract's late delivery, the client rang off without offering a formal goodbye.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She rang off the phone." but "She rang off." — The verb is intransitive, so you cannot 'ring off' an object like a phone or a person.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is intransitive, meaning you do not put an object after it.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'hang up' and 'ring up'; note that 'ring off' is specifically British and slightly more formal or dated than 'hang up'.

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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.