# sign off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to finish a broadcast, a letter, or a period of work. You use this when you are ending a conversation or stopping your work for the day.

For teachers: To conclude a communication, such as a broadcast or a formal letter; also used to indicate the cessation of work or activity. The verb is typically intransitive in these contexts.

## Examples

- I sign off with a quick 'thanks' before leaving work.
- Before she signs off for the weekend, she always checks her calendar for Monday.
- The veteran broadcaster signed off for the final time, concluding a career that spanned four decades of political upheaval and social change.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The manager needs to sign off the report." but "The manager needs to sign off on the report." — To express official approval, the preposition 'on' must follow 'sign off'.

## Usage notes

- Often used in broadcasting or when ending a professional email or work session.
- Teaching tip: Distinguish between 'sign off' (to finish/end) and 'sign off on' (to approve); the latter is a transitive phrasal-prepositional verb common in business.

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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.