off for the night

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "off for the night" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is leaving or finishing their activities for the evening. Example: "After a long day at work, I'm finally off for the night and ready to relax at home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Early Wednesday morning, just before Mr. Leno signed off for the night, "The Tonight Show" made good on its word: a credit appeared that read, "Last night's Taylor Swift montage provided by Rich Juzwiak of fourfour.typepad.com and Kate Spencer of thefablife.com".com

The New York Times - Arts

For the light pulse assays in early morning hours; the night before the assay, each plastic container (containing 3 mosquito cups) was covered with aluminum foil just as the light went off for the night (light intensity in dark was ~1.5 lux).

BMC Physiology

I am signing off for the night.

The Washington Post

We're about to sign off for the night.

The Guardian - Travel

1 35 A.M. E.T.: Time for me to sign off for the night.

The New Yorker

We're signing off for the night – a huge thanks to everyone who contributed today.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The Lede is signing off for the evening.

The New York Times

Before I signed off for the evening, I decided to embark on a short, geographically inexplicable bar hop.

The Guardian - Travel

The Lede is signing off for the evening, but readers can follow further developments in this story by visiting the home page of nytimes.com.

The New York Times

Here is a promotional video for Mr. O'Mara's services: The Lede is signing off for the evening, but we will continue to follow the Trayvon Martin case in the days and weeks ahead.

The New York Times

The Lede is signing off for the evening, but my colleagues will continue to update the main news article on Wednesday's events, and the blog will continue following the uprising in Syria in the days ahead.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "off for the night" to clearly indicate the cessation of activities until the next day. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While acceptable in most contexts, excessive use of "off for the night" in highly formal or academic writing may sound too colloquial. Consider alternatives like "concluding for the evening" or "suspending activity until the following day" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "off for the night" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a temporary cessation of activity, typically related to work or other daily routines. It modifies a verb, specifying when the action is discontinued. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "off for the night" is a common and generally accepted way to indicate that activities or work have ceased for the evening. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples across diverse sources. Its usage is most prevalent in news and media, with a neutral register making it suitable for a wide range of communication. While grammatically correct and widely understood, writers should consider more formal alternatives in academic or highly professional contexts. The related phrases provided offer nuanced options for expressing similar meanings, and the writing guidance helps avoid potential pitfalls in its application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

done for the evening

Focuses on the completion of tasks rather than the transition to nighttime.

finished for the night

Similar to 'done for the evening', emphasizing the end of work or activities.

signing off

Implies a formal ending or conclusion, often used in professional settings.

calling it a night

A common idiom for deciding to end the evening's activities.

knocking off

A more informal term for stopping work, common in British English.

wrapping up for the day

Highlights the end of the workday specifically.

packing it in

Suggests giving up or stopping an activity, often due to fatigue or lack of progress.

clocking out

Refers specifically to the act of recording the end of work hours.

retiring for the evening

A more formal and elegant way to say someone is going to bed.

heading home for the night

Emphasizes the act of returning home to rest.

FAQs

What does "off for the night" mean?

The phrase "off for the night" means that someone is finished with their activities or work for the evening and is likely going to rest or sleep.

Is "off for the night" formal or informal?

The phrase "off for the night" is generally considered to be neutral in tone, suitable for both informal and mildly formal contexts. More formal alternatives include "retiring for the evening".

What can I say instead of "off for the night"?

You can use alternatives like "done for the evening", "finished for the night", or "calling it a night", depending on the context.

How to use "off for the night" in a sentence?

You can use "off for the night" in a sentence like this: "After a long day at the office, I'm finally off for the night." or "The search was called off for the night due to the worsening weather conditions."