blank off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blank off" is not correct in standard written English.
It is often used informally to mean to ignore or dismiss something, but it is not widely accepted in formal writing. Example: "I tried to focus on my work, but I had to blank off the noise from the construction outside."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In "Match Game" clues, Ed was always freezing his blank off; Susie always needed to find a guy who could blank in five minutes; Pete loved girls who had gigantic blanks.

The New York Times - Arts

"I just kept looking at him going, 'Blank off!'.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A change from superimposed orientations to a single orientation has 2 underlying constituents: A switch from one orientation to blank (off-component), and an overlaid continuous presentation of the orthogonal orientation (sustained, adaptive component).

Cerebral Cortex

I blanked off thoughts of favourite meals and began to take each day as it came.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The gallery should be blanked off with obscured glass screens, or similar, on the sides directly facing the Neo building.

The Guardian - Arts

Welles was right: there's an entire span of American experience that has been blanked off screens because Welles wasn't here to reveal it.

The New Yorker

When not in use, the secondary turbo is blanked off by a valve to prevent turbulence caused by air from finding its way to where it is not needed.

Independent

The ends of the stubs are blanked off to short-circuit them.

Wikipedia

He uses this device to punctuate sparingly large, otherwise blank, off-white canvases.

The New York Times - Arts

To ease maintenance and lubrication, panels of air-smoothed casing ahead of the cylinders were removed from 1952, and the front sanders were blanked off.

Wikipedia

By blanking it off, they haven't got the advantage they were looking for, but they haven't got the downside either.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and professionalism, replace the informal phrase "blank off" with more standard alternatives like "ignore", "block out", or "tune out" depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "blank off" in formal or professional writing. Its informal nature can detract from your credibility and make your message less effective. Opt for more established phrases to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blank off" functions as an informal phrasal verb, typically used to suggest ignoring or disregarding something. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "blank off" is an informal way to describe ignoring or dismissing something. However, it's not considered standard English and is best avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting it's "not correct" in typical written contexts. While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian occasionally use it, alternatives such as "ignore", "block out", and "tune out" are generally more appropriate for clear and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tune out

Suggests ceasing to pay attention, similar to ignoring but more auditory-focused.

block out

Implies actively preventing something from affecting you, a stronger action than simply 'blanking'.

pay no attention to

Emphasizes the lack of focus or heed given to something.

ignore

Focuses on disregarding something, differing from the more active sense of 'blanking'.

disregard

Implies intentionally neglecting or overlooking something.

shut out

Suggests actively preventing something from entering one's awareness.

dismiss

Indicates rejecting something as unworthy of consideration.

erase from memory

Implies a deliberate effort to forget something entirely.

wipe from consciousness

Suggests a complete removal of something from one's thoughts.

obliterate

Denotes completely destroying or removing something, more drastic than simply 'blanking'.

FAQs

What does "blank off" mean?

The phrase "blank off" informally means to ignore or dismiss something. However, it's not considered standard English.

How can I use "blank off" in a sentence?

While not recommended for formal writing, you might hear it used informally, like: "I tried to focus on my work, but I had to blank off the noise."

What can I say instead of "blank off"?

You can use alternatives like "ignore", "block out", or "tune out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "blank off" or "block out"?

Block out is generally considered more grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing compared to the informal "blank off".