put off until

USAGE SUMMARY

"put off until" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase typically means to delay or postpone something until a certain point in the future. For example: "I have decided to put off my vacation until next summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Andrews's bill has been put off until the fall.

The Washington Post

The matter was put off until Oct. 3.

The New York Times

The idea was put off until this season.

The New York Times - Arts

End-of-life matters are too weighty to put off until death is imminent.

Harvard University

Initially penciled in for Friday, the meeting was put off until Monday or Tuesday.

The New York Times

A spokesman said the balloting had been put off until further notice.

The New York Times

It was scheduled for completion this year, but that has been put off until 2014.

The New York Times

After a 90-minute delay, the game was put off until the next day.

The New York Times

Political pressure means the final decision is put off until after the 2015 election.

Independent

A national reconciliation conference has been put off until the summer.

The Economist

That has now been put off until December, at the earliest.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put off until" when you want to clearly state that an action or decision is being delayed to a specific future time. This phrasing works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "put off until" is versatile, it can sound less polished in highly formal contexts. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "defer until" or "postpone until" to enhance the tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put off until" functions as a phrasal verb indicating postponement or delay of an action or event to a specified future time. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage in diverse contexts. The primary function is to express the act of delaying something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put off until" is a frequently used phrasal verb that means to delay something to a later time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Its usage spans various contexts, with prominence in News & Media and Academia. While versatile, remember to consider more formal alternatives like "postpone until" in professional writing. The phrase's function is to communicate a delay, providing clarity about when the action will eventually occur.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone until

A more formal alternative that directly implies rescheduling to a later date.

delay until

Similar to postpone but may also imply causing something to be late.

defer until

Suggests formally postponing an action, often to a specific time.

adjourn until

Often used in formal settings, like meetings, to suspend until a later time.

reschedule for

Specifically indicates changing the scheduled time to a later one.

hold over until

Implies keeping something pending until a future event or date.

shelve until

Suggests temporarily setting aside an item or plan until a later consideration.

suspend until

Indicates a temporary halt with the intention of resuming at a later time.

table until

Primarily used in parliamentary or formal meeting settings, meaning to postpone discussion.

kick the can down the road

An idiomatic expression implying avoiding a decision by delaying it, often used informally.

FAQs

How can I use "put off until" in a sentence?

You can use "put off until" to indicate delaying an action. For example, "The meeting was "postponed until" next week" or "I had to "delay until" Friday to submit my report".

What are some alternatives to "put off until"?

Alternatives include "postpone until", "delay until", or "defer until". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it always clear when using "put off until"?

While generally clear, ensure the context provides a specific timeframe. Avoid ambiguity by stating a clear date or event the action is being delayed to.

What is the difference between "put off until" and "cancel"?

"Put off until" implies a temporary delay, meaning the event will still happen at a later time. "Cancel" means the event will not happen at all. Therefore, "cancel" and "put off until" have almost opposite meanings.