off my watch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "off my watch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not your responsibility or concern, often in a context where someone is trying to shift blame or responsibility. Example: "I won't be held accountable for the mistakes made off my watch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

They took off my watch.

The Guardian

I took off my watch to adjust it, unsure how many centuries to set it back.

The New Yorker

An early-spring sun glinted off my watch as I walked down Lexington Avenue.

The New Yorker

I would take off my watch and ask if we could see how long we could kiss.

The New Yorker

"If Sunderland are losing by a goal," one respondent confessed, "I always take off my watch and put it into my pocket, and when they equalise I put it back on".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I took off my watch and stuffed it deep in my pocket, letting the monotony of work drag me down till I was conscious of nothing, not my fingers at the keyboard or the image on the screen or the dialogue I was capturing frame by frozen frame.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I do feel very protective about him, because I don't want to finish him off on my watch.

The Guardian

I have a huge sofa in the kitchen, where I can kick off my shoes watch TV, cook or simply watch what's happening on the golf course, and it's a fabulous area and definitely my favourite part of the house," he said.

Independent

"Nobody has the right to waltz off to Washington on my watch".

Huffington Post

What if the alarm on my watch goes off during my set?

The Guardian

When I take off my headset to watch the craft from my own view, it looks like there's a spooked bat in the room, trying to get out.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "off my watch" to firmly disclaim responsibility for an undesirable event, especially when implying you would have prevented it had you been in charge.

Common error

Avoid using "off my watch" if you genuinely had no possible connection to the situation. It implies a degree of oversight you didn't possess.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "off my watch" functions as an idiomatic expression. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct. It's commonly used to disclaim responsibility or indicate something happened outside one's period of oversight.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "off my watch" is an idiomatic expression used to indicate that an event occurred outside of one's responsibility or control. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in News & Media. It’s important to remember that using "off my watch" implies a degree of oversight, and therefore should only be used if you would have been in a position to prevent the event. Alternatives such as "not on my watch" or "not my responsibility" can also be considered, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not on my watch

Uses a different preposition to convey the same sentiment of preventing something undesirable.

not my responsibility

States directly that the speaker does not bear the burden of accountability.

not under my supervision

Replaces the idiomatic "watch" with a more literal term for oversight or control.

I'm not accountable for that

Shifts the focus to the speaker's lack of accountability for a particular event or situation.

that's not my concern

Indicates a lack of interest or involvement in a given matter.

I'm not in charge here

Clarifies that the speaker does not have the authority or control in a particular situation.

it's beyond my control

Indicates the speaker lacks the power to influence or prevent something.

that's not my department

Denotes that a matter falls outside the speaker's area of responsibility or expertise.

I have no authority over that

Emphasizes the speaker's lack of power or jurisdiction over a specific matter.

it's not within my purview

Uses more formal language to indicate that something is outside the scope of the speaker's duties or responsibilities.

FAQs

What does the idiom "off my watch" mean?

The idiom "off my watch" means that something happened while someone was not responsible or in charge, implying they wouldn't have allowed it to happen under their supervision. It is similar to saying "not on my watch".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "off my watch"?

It's appropriate to use "off my watch" when something undesirable has occurred, and you want to emphasize that it happened outside of your control or responsibility. It often implies you would have prevented it if you had been in a position to do so. Be mindful when to use alternatives such as "not my responsibility".

What are some alternative phrases to "off my watch" that I can use?

Alternatives to "off my watch" include "not on my watch", "not my responsibility", or "I'm not accountable for that" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "on my watch" instead of "off my watch"?

Yes, "on my watch" is the opposite of "off my watch". "On my watch" means that something happened while you were responsible or in charge. For example, "The project succeeded on my watch" means you were in charge when it was successful.