Definition

Verb (transitive) To draw a line through an item on a list to indicate it has been dealt with, completed, or is no longer relevant. It signifies the act of removing something from consideration by marking it.

Usage

The verb "cross off" is used with a direct object (the item being removed) and is often followed by the preposition "from" to specify the list. It implies a physical or symbolic act of cancellation.

Examples

• "Please cross off any items you have already purchased." (Instruction to mark completed tasks.)
• "I can cross that big project off my to-do list." (Expressing completion of a major task.)
• "She crossed his name off the guest list after he cancelled." (Removing someone from a list.)

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Can be used metaphorically to mean eliminating a possibility or achieving a goal.
  • "With that victory, they crossed the championship off their list of goals." (They achieved the championship.)
• Common Constructions: The phrasal verb is separable. The object can come between "cross" and "off" (e.g., cross off) or after "off" (e.g., cross off ).

Variants and Related Words

• Cross out: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably. It can emphasize the act of marking over text to make it illegible, not just its removal from a list.
  • He crossed out the mistake and wrote the correction above it.
• Strike off: A more formal synonym with the same meaning.
• Tick off (UK)/Check off (US): These mean to mark an item as complete, typically with a checkmark (✓), but do not carry the connotation of removal. The item often remains visible on the list.

Synonyms

• Delete
• Eliminate
• Strike out
• Scratch out
• Cancel

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cross out: As noted above, to draw a line through written text to cancel it.
• Cross through: Similar to "cross out," meaning to draw a line through something.

Related Idioms

• To have/get something crossed off one's list: To have completed or dealt with a task or goal.
  • "I finally got my dentist appointment crossed off my list."

Verb

1. remove from a list
   • Cross the name of the dead person off the list