970
off⁴ also off side — n [the] the part of a cricket field in front and to the right of the (right-handed) player who hits the ball (BATSMAN) as he faces the player who BOWLS it → opposite LEG
off⁵ v [T] AmE slang to kill
off- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
off-'air adj [A] not being broadcast on the radio or television at the present moment: off-air television recordings → opposite ON-AIR
of·fal /'ɒfɔːl‖'ɔː-/ BrE ‖ variety meats AmE — n [U] the heart, head, brains etc of an animal, used as food
Of·fa's Dyke /ˌɒfə ˈdɑːk‖ˌɔ-/ a long wall of earth, originally over 100 miles long, put up to mark the border between Wales and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, by King Offa of Mercia in the 8th century. Parts of it can still be seen.
off·beat /ˌɒfˈbiːt  ˌɔːf-/ adj infml unusual; not CONVENTIONAL: offbeat clothes/tastes/ideas
'off·break n (in cricket) a slow ball that turns from the off side to the leg side when it bounces (BOUNCE)
off 'Broadway adv AmE 1 (of theatre in New York) not in the main professional group of theatres, but more unusual or EXPERIMENTAL in nature: His new play about life in a women's prison is opening off Broadway. 2 off-off Broadway more unusual, or perhaps extreme, than off Broadway —off-Broadway adj: an off-Broadway production of Hamlet
'off·chance n a very unlikely possibility: I'm just waiting here on the off-chance that the Queen will walk past.
off 'colour adj 1 BrE not well: She's been feeling a bit off colour for the last day or two. 2 sexually improper: The nightclub comedian told some rather off-colour jokes.
off-'duty adj (of someone in a profession or armed service) not working: an off-duty policeman
of·fence BrE ‖ offense AmE /əˈfens/ n 1 [C(against)] an act of wrongdoing, especially of breaking the law; crime: Driving while drunk is a serious offence/is not a minor offence. | They won't imprison him for a first offence. (=his first crime) | The defendant asked for ten similar offences to be taken into consideration. (=asked for his/her sentence to be made less severe because he/she has admitted to the ten other crimes) | His evil crimes were an offence against the whole of humanity. 2 [U] cause for hurt feelings: to give offence to someone | I hope you won't take offence (=feel offended) if I ask you not to smoke. | Don't be upset by what he said — he meant no offence. (=did not intend to offend you) 3 [C(to)] something that causes displeasure: That dirty old house is an offence to the eye/to everyone who lives in the street.
of·fend /əˈfend/ v 1 [T often pass.] to hurt the feelings of; upset: I was very offended that you forgot my birthday. | I hope you won't be offended if I don't finish this cake. 2 [T] to cause displeasure to; be offensive to: Cruelty to animals offends many people. 3 [(against)] fml to do wrong: to offend against good manners/good taste
of·fend·er /əˈfendər/ n someone who offends, especially a criminal: They don't usually imprison first offenders. (=people found guilty for the first time)
of·fend·ing /əˈfendɪŋ/ adj [A] often humor causing displeasure, discomfort, or inconvenience: I had bad toothache and decided to have the offending tooth removed.
of·fense¹ /əˈfens/ n AmE for OFFENCE
of·fense² /əˈfens‖ɔːfens, ˈɑː-/ the part of a game concerned with making points and winning: He plays offense for the Bears. | We'll never win if we don't improve our offense. → opposite DEFENSE
of·fen·sive¹ /əˈfensɪv/ adj 1 causing offence; unpleasant: offensive remarks/smells | I found him extremely offensive. | crude jokes that are offensive to women → opposite INOFFENSIVE 2 of or for attacking: offensive weapons | The troops took up offensive positions. → opposite DEFENSIVE
of·fen·sive² /əˈfensɪv‖ˈɔfensɪv, ˈɑː-/ adj AmE of the offense in a game: an offensive play —ly adv —ness n [U]
of·fen·sive³ /əˈfensɪv/ n 1 a continued military attack: The enemy launched a full-scale offensive. 2 on the offensive making an attack or ready to attack 3 take the offensive to attack first
of·fer¹ /'ɒfər‖'ɔː-, ˌɑː-/ v 1 [T(to)] to hold out (to a person) for acceptance or refusal: The police are offering a big reward for any information about the murder. | May I offer a suggestion? | Offer some coffee to the guests. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] They've offered us £60,000 for the house. Shall we take it? | I've been offered a job in advertising. 2 [I;T+to-v;obj] to express willingness (to do something): She offered to drive me to the station. | I don't need any help, but it was kind of you to offer. 3 [T] to provide; give: This agreement does not offer much hope of lasting peace. | The booklet offers practical advice to people with housing problems. 4 [T(UP to)] to give (to God); He offered (up) a prayer/a sacrifice.
offer² n 1 a statement offering (to do) something: an offer of assistance | a firm offer (=a promise, especially to pay a certain amount of money) | They made us an offer we couldn't refuse. 2 something which is offered: an offer of £5 | He made a generous offer for the house. → see also OFFERING 3 on offer BrE ‖ on sale AmE for sale, especially cheaply: They've got cornflakes on offer/on special offer this week. 4 under offer BrE (of a house, flat etc for sale) already having a possible buyer who has offered money → see REFUSE (USAGE)
of·fer·ing /'ɒfərɪŋ‖'ɔː-, ˈɑː-/ n something offered, especially to God → see also BURNT OFFERING, PEACE OFFERING
of·fer·to·ry /'ɒfətərɪ‖ɔːfətːri, ˈɑː-/ n (the collection of) the money people give during a religious service
off 'guard adj not paying attention, not ALERT: These comments were made when she was off guard. | an off-guard moment
off·hand /ˌɒfˈhænd  ˌːf-/ adv, adj 1 careless or disrespectful in manner; CASUAL: She was rather offhand (with me). 2 at once; without time to think or prepare: I can't give you the exact figures offhand. —edly adv. —edness n [U]
Of·fi·ah, Martin /ɒfaɪələː-/ (1966-) an English RUGBY player who played for many successful teams, including Wigan and Salford. He played over thirty times for Great Britain, and is considered to be one of the best rugby players ever.
of·fice /'ɒfɪs‖'ɔː-, ɑː-/ n 1 [C] a room or building where written works, accounts etc are done (especially in connection with a business or organization): the manager's office | 'Where's Dad?' 'He's gone to the office.' | The company is moving to new offices in central London. | Their new head office is in Tokyo. | during office hours (=between about nine and five o'clock) | office equipment 2 [C] a place where a particular service is provided: a ticket office → see also BOX OFFICE, POST OFFICE 3 [C] BrE(usually caps.) a government department: the Foreign Office 4 [C;U] a position of responsibility and power, especially in government: the office of President | to hold (public) office | Our party has been in/out of office for three years. → see also GOOD OFFICES
Office, The a British television comedy programme set in a small office. The programme's main character is office manager David Brent who thinks that he is very good at his job and popular with the people who work for him. In fact, he is a very bad manager who often offends or embarrasses people, especially by telling jokes or singing songs, which he does in order to make them laugh and think he is a clever and friendly manager. He also says things which he thinks are clever and original, but which are really either obvious or MEANINGLESS.
'office block BrE ‖ 'office building AmE — n a large building divided into offices
'office boy, 'office girl fem. — n a young person employed to do the less important work in an office
of·fice·hold·er /'ɒfɪsˌhəʊldər‖'ɔː-, ˈɑː-/ n one who holds a position, especially in government
Office of Fair Trading, the abbrev. OFT a British government organization whose job is to protect people from being cheated by shops and other businesses, and to help customers who have been cheated or treated unfairly
Office of Management and Budget, the abbrev. OMB a US government organization that provides help for the President in organizing the work of government departments and especially in preparing the BUDGET (=the official plan for how government money will be used)