Meaning trap
put off
postpone
to delay doing something until a later time.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to delay doing something until a later time.
Another meaning of 'put off' is 'discourage or repel'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I had to put off my dentist appointment because I was too busy.
If I have a lot of tasks, I sometimes put off the less important ones to focus on urgent work.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Don't put off to do your homework.
Say: Don't put off doing your homework.
'Put off' + -ing, not a to-infinitive. With a pronoun: 'put it off'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Put off' is the everyday verb for postponing; 'postpone until a later date' is fine in writing but stiff in speech.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
put off + task
- the meeting
- doing it
- a decision
- until tomorrow
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- put off (discourage or repel) — Another meaning of 'put off' is 'discourage or repel'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.