walk off
Verb (phrasal verb): 1. To leave a place or situation abruptly, often to express displeasure or protest: To depart suddenly, especially in a demonstrative manner. 2. To steal something; to take something without permission and walk away with it: To remove and carry away something illicitly.
Meaning 1: To leave abruptly * The dissatisfied customer threatened to walk off if the service didn't improve. * During the argument, he got frustrated and walked off. * The workers decided to walk off the job in protest of the new safety conditions.
Meaning 2: To steal * Someone walked off with my umbrella from the restaurant lobby. * The trophy was so small that a fan could easily have walked off with it. * He just walked off with the company's confidential files.
- The phrasal verb is separable. The object (what is stolen) can often be placed between "walk" and "off," especially in informal speech (e.g., "He walked my phone off!"), though placing the object after "off" is more standard.
- When meaning "to leave," it often implies the action is a reaction to something negative (anger, frustration, protest).
- When meaning "to steal," it often implies the theft was casual, brazen, or done without immediate detection.
- Walkout (n): An act of leaving a place or job as a strike or protest.
- The union called for a walkout.
- Walk away (phrasal verb): To leave a situation, often one that is difficult or negative. It does not carry the strong connotation of protest that "walk off" can, nor does it mean "to steal."
- She decided to walk away from the deal.
- For "leave abruptly": Depart suddenly, storm off, leave in protest.
- For "steal": Take, pilfer, make off with, swipe, snatch.
- Walk off the job: To go on strike; to stop working and leave as a form of protest.
- The crew walked off the job at noon.
- Walk off with (something): This is the standard construction for the "steal" meaning.
- I can't believe he tried to walk off with the prize money.
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go away from
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The actor walked off before he got his cue
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I got annoyed and just walked off
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take without permission
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he walked off with my wife!
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The thief walked off with my gold watch
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