got off work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "got off work" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most often used in the past tense to mean finishing work for the day. For example, "I got off work late last night, so I was exhausted when I got home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

That's when our fathers got off work and we had to go home and open a can of beer.

The New York Times - Sports

When the North Brooklyn service industry got off work, Toubin's parties were the place to be.

The New Yorker

Lara worked at the Raiffeisen Bank, and she got off work before Simon, but she liked to wait for him so that they could travel home together.

The New Yorker

Instead, he would pick her up when she got off work, around eleven at night, and they would go for a drive, stop for ice cream or a hamburger — Maury was scrupulous about not taking her into a bar, because she was not yet twenty-one — thendend up parking somewhere.

The New Yorker

Instead, he would pick her up when she got off work, around eleven at night, and they would go for a drive, stop for ice cream or a hamburger Maury was scrupulous about not taking her into a bar, because she was not yet twenty-one then end up parking somewhere.

The New Yorker

From a guy who works for the Bryant Park conservancy, Bill heard that a cook from the Oyster Bar restaurant, on the lower level of the station, used to shoot balloons down at night with a BB gun when he got off work; but to me shooting seemed too much of a risk to the recently restored zodiac paintings, as well as not quite sporting, somehow.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

"When I get off work, I don't know what I'm up against," Scruggs said.

The New Yorker

In the second episode, after Norén gets off work, she goes to a bar.

The New Yorker

"Every day when I get off work, I go straight down to the gym.

The New Yorker

One man threatened her, saying, "I know what time you get off work," Ms. Davies recounted.

The New York Times

Musicians go straight there to play after they get off work, from about 7pm.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a recurring event, specify the time reference clearly. For instance, instead of saying "he got off work", specify "he always got off work at 5 PM."

Common error

Ensure that the tense of "got off work" aligns with the context. Use "gets off work" for present tense and "will get off work" for future tense scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got off work" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the completion of one's work duties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in the past tense. Examples from Ludwig illustrate how it describes the time someone finishes their work.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "got off work" is a very common and grammatically sound way to describe the completion of one's work for the day. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is prevalent in news and media, and it serves to provide a temporal reference point in narratives. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it's crucial to use the appropriate tense, as exemplified in Ludwig. Consider related phrases like "finished work" or "left work" for similar meanings. The high frequency and authoritative sources suggest it's a reliable and easily understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished work

Uses a different verb to describe the completion of work.

left work

Focuses on the action of departing from the workplace.

completed shift

Specifically refers to finishing a defined work period.

ended workday

Highlights the termination of the entire day's work.

clocked out

Emphasizes the action of recording the end of work hours.

punched out

Similar to "clocked out", but often implies a manual time-keeping system.

was done working

Uses a passive construction to indicate the end of work.

concluded work

More formal way of saying finished work.

wrapped up work

Suggests the completion of all tasks and responsibilities.

ceased working

A more formal and emphatic way to state the end of work.

FAQs

How can I use "got off work" in a sentence?

"Got off work" is used to indicate that someone has finished their work for the day. For example, "I "got off work" at 5 PM and went straight home."

What's a more formal way to say "got off work"?

More formal alternatives include "finished work", "completed shift", or "concluded work". For example, "She "concluded work" at 6 PM."

Is it correct to say "get off of work"?

While understandable, "get off of work" is less common and slightly less grammatically correct than "get off work". The preposition "of" is generally unnecessary in this context.

What can I say instead of "I'm waiting until he gets off work"?

You can use alternatives like "I'm waiting until he "finishes work"", "I'm waiting until he "completes his shift"", or "I'm waiting until he "leaves work"".