Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [goof awf, of]
- /guf ɔf, ɒf/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [goof awf, of]
- /guf ɔf, ɒf/
Definitions of goof-off word
- noun goof-off a foolish or stupid person. 1
- noun goof-off a mistake or blunder, especially one due to carelessness. 1
- noun goof-off a source of fun or cause for amusement: We short-sheeted his bunk just for a goof. 1
- verb without object goof-off to blunder; make an error, misjudgment, etc. 1
- verb without object goof-off to waste or kill time; evade work or responsibility (often followed by off or around): Exam week is not a time to goof off. We goofed around till train time. 1
- verb with object goof-off to spoil or make a mess of (something); botch; bungle (often followed by up): You really goofed up the job. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of goof-off
First appearance:
before 1950 One of the 5% newest English words
First recorded in 1950-55; noun use of verb phrase goof off
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Goof-off
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
goof-off popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 39% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 52% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
Synonyms for goof-off
noun goof-off
- bystander — A bystander is a person who is present when something happens and who sees it but does not take part in it.
- drone — Music. a continuous low tone produced by the bass pipes or bass strings of musical instruments. the pipes (especially of the bagpipe) or strings producing this tone. a bagpipe equipped with such pipes.
- idler — the state or quality of being idle.
- laggard — a person or thing that lags; lingerer; loiterer.
- loafer — a person who loafs; lazy person; idler.