to cancel a meeting or an arrangement that you have made with somebody
Example:
- It's too late to put them off now.
- She put him off with the excuse that she had too much work to do.
to make somebody dislike somebody/something or not trust them/it
Example:
- She's very clever but her manner does tend to put people off.
- Don't be put off by how it looks—it tastes delicious.
Related words and phrases
to interrupt somebody who is trying to give all their attention to something that they are doing
Example:
- Don't put me off when I'm trying to concentrate.
- The sudden noise put her off her game.
to stop in order to allow somebody to leave
Example:
- I asked the bus driver to put me off at the station.