off my desk

USAGE SUMMARY

"off my desk" is a perfectly grammatical phrase, and it can be used in any kind of written English.
You might use it, for example, in the sentence, "I took the book off my desk and set it on the shelf."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

"Hamilton" is off my desk, and Sondheim's desk is full.

The New York Times

Part of my routine is sweeping the eraser crumbs off my desk like foundry dust after every job.

The New Yorker

"At least I'm off my desk and on the floor," she said.

The New York Times

I cleared off my desk and set down a stack of card stock and a few Sharpies.

The New York Times

"The work he did, what he could take off my desk, his ideas, his commitment, his loyalty.

The New York Times - Sports

"But it got yanked off my desk and as far as I know, nothing happened for many, many months.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"I'll watch Noa," I volunteered helpfully, momentarily forgetting that if our daughter fell off of my desk chair I would be helpless to do anything about it.

The New York Times

I am sitting in the air-conditioning, my shoes kicked off under my desk, rubbing my nyloned feet together, when I hear a horn honking.

The New Yorker

Since the next day was Saturday, I did not have to worry about nodding off at my desk.

The New York Times - Style

On one of the hottest days of the year I came into the office with a cardigan over the top of my formal, sleeveless dress though decided to take this off at my desk as I was uncomfortably hot.

The Guardian

One afternoon, after about six weeks on the job, I nodded off at my desk, nearly bonking my forehead atop my keyboard.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "off my desk" to indicate that a task has been delegated or completed, freeing up your time and workspace. For instance, "With the report finally "off my desk", I can focus on new projects".

Common error

Avoid using "off my desk" solely to describe physical clutter. While it can refer to tidying, it's more effective when implying delegation, completion, or transfer of responsibility. Don't say "I moved the pen "off my desk"" when you simply mean you moved it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "off my desk" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb, indicating the state of something being removed, delegated, or no longer requiring immediate attention. Ludwig AI supports this understanding with numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "off my desk" is a common and generally neutral expression used to indicate that something has been removed, delegated, or completed, thereby freeing up space or time. As supported by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki contexts. While alternatives like "taken off my hands" or "delegated" can be used, it's essential to ensure they fit the specific context. Avoid using "off my desk" solely for physical clutter; it's more effective when implying task management or responsibility transfer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

removed from my desk

Focuses on the action of removing something physically from the desk.

cleared from my desk

Emphasizes the act of clearing or tidying the desk space.

taken off my hands

Shifts the focus to delegating a task, rather than just physical removal.

delegated from my workload

Specifically highlights the delegation of work to reduce personal burden.

transferred from my responsibility

Emphasizes the transfer of responsibility, often implying a formal process.

no longer my concern

Indicates that something is no longer the speaker's responsibility or worry.

dispatched from my immediate tasks

Suggests a quick and efficient handling of tasks, marking them as completed or delegated.

relieved from my duties

Focuses on being relieved of a specific duty or task.

outsourced from my tasks

Specifies that a task has been given to an external party.

shelved from my current projects

Implies that a project or task has been postponed or put on hold.

FAQs

How can I use "off my desk" in a sentence?

You can use "off my desk" to indicate something has been removed, delegated, or completed. For example, "I need to get this report "off my desk" by Friday."

What does it mean when something is "off my desk"?

It typically means that a task, responsibility, or physical item has been removed from your immediate attention or workspace, often implying delegation or completion.

What are some alternatives to saying "off my desk"?

Alternatives include "taken off my hands", "delegated", or "no longer my concern", depending on the context.

Is "off my desk" formal or informal?

The phrase "off my desk" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both professional and informal settings.