Definition

Phrasal Verb: - To eliminate or reduce something, typically something undesirable or accumulated, through physical effort, activity, or sustained work.

Usage

This phrasal verb is transitive and separable. It describes the process of getting rid of a physical condition (like weight or energy) or an abstract burden (like debt or anger) by actively working to counteract it. - The object (what is being eliminated) comes after "work off." - The object can be placed between "work" and "off" (e.g., "work it off").

Examples

• To eliminate a physical condition:
  • I need to work off the big meal I ate for lunch.
  • The children ran around the park to work off their excess energy.
• To eliminate an abstract burden:
  • He took on extra shifts to work off his financial debt.
  • She went for a long walk to work off her frustration.

Advanced Usage

• "Work off steam": A common collocation meaning to release pent-up energy, stress, or anger through physical activity.
  • After the stressful meeting, he went to the gym to work off some steam.

Variants and Related Words

• Burn off: A near-synonym often used for calories or energy.
  • Cycling helps burn off calories.
• Pay off: Used specifically for eliminating a debt.
  • It took years to pay off the mortgage.

Synonyms

• Burn off: To use energy, typically through exercise.
• Shed: To get rid of something, like weight.
• Discharge: To settle or pay off a debt or obligation.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Work out: To engage in physical exercise. (Note: "Work out" focuses on the activity itself, while "work off" focuses on eliminating a specific thing that activity.)
  • I work out at the gym. / I work off stress at the gym.

Verb

1. cause to go away through effort or work
   • work off the extra pounds you have gained over the holidays
   • we must work off the debt