Definition

Verb (transitive, separable phrasal verb): - To lose body weight, typically a specific amount, through the process of sweating, often as a result of intense exercise, heat exposure, or deliberate effort in a sauna or steam room.

Usage

This phrasal verb is used to describe the intentional act of trying to lose weight by inducing sweat. It is often used in informal or conversational contexts related to fitness, dieting, or weight loss. - It requires a direct object (the amount of weight lost). - It is separable: the object (e.g., "three pounds") can come between "sweat" and "off" or after the entire phrasal verb.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can imply a temporary or quick-fix weight loss, as the weight lost is often water weight that may be regained.
• It is sometimes used metaphorically to describe getting rid of something through hard work or effort, though this is less common than the literal meaning related to weight.
  • He went for a long run to sweat off his stress.

Variants and Related Words

• Sweat out (verb): To endure a difficult situation or illness until it ends. (e.g., ) This is distinct from "sweat off," which is specifically about weight loss.
• Work off (verb): To get rid of something, such as weight or calories, through physical exercise. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Shed (weight) (verb): To lose weight.
• Burn off (verb): To use up calories or fat through activity.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Sweat over (verb): To work very hard or worry about something.
  • He's sweating over the final details of the report.
• Sweat through (verb): To become completely soaked with sweat.
  • I sweated through my shirt during the workout.

Related Idioms

• Break a sweat: To start sweating due to physical exertion; often used to indicate that something was easy ("without breaking a sweat").
  • The boxer won the match without breaking a sweat.
• No sweat: An informal expression meaning "no problem" or "it's easy."
  • "Can you finish this by five?" "Sure, no sweat."

Verb

1. lose weight by sweating
   • I sweated off 3 pounds in the sauna