put off until tomorrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'put off until tomorrow' is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to postpone or delay something until the following day. Example sentence: "I have a lot of work to do, but I'll have to put it off until tomorrow because I'm feeling sick today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Etymologically, "procrastination" is derived from the Latin verb procrastinare — to put off until tomorrow.

The New York Times

But the announcement of the deal has been put off until tomorrow.

The Guardian

This is not a task that can be put off until tomorrow – with the European elections weeks away, every second counts, and the time for action is now.

The Guardian - Opinion

We scan the details of the many women we have promised to visit today, deciding who is most vulnerable and who could be put off until tomorrow.

The Guardian

Everywhere there is marijuana to blur whatever qualms they have about exploiting themselves and to help them put off until tomorrow the things they should do today.

The New York Times

Anni Townend, a business psychologist and author of Assertiveness and Diversity, says: "Do today what you could put off until tomorrow – or next year.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

Yet this week Mr Erdogan said a decision on the ban will be put off until next year.

The Economist

He told neighbors that the golf-course renovation had been put off until 2015 or 2016.

The New York Times - Magazine

But Tuesday's vote only put off until next year a debate over security and personal liberties.

The New York Times

Since Glimmerglass's 2005 season is already set, the premiere has been put off until 2006.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put off until tomorrow" when you want to convey a sense of informal postponement, especially when referring to tasks or decisions that could reasonably be done today. It adds a touch of colloquialism to your writing.

Common error

While "put off until tomorrow" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal or professional settings where a more precise or neutral term like "postpone" or "defer" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put off until tomorrow" functions as an idiomatic expression used to describe the act of delaying or postponing something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It often carries a connotation of procrastination or avoidance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put off until tomorrow" is a common idiomatic expression meaning to postpone or delay something until the next day. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general use, although care should be taken in more formal contexts where more precise wording is preferred. Found frequently in "News & Media" and academic writing, it conveys a sense of informal postponement. Consider alternatives like "procrastinate" or "postpone" depending on the situation. While occasional delays are inevitable, consistent use of the phrase may indicate a need to reassess time management strategies. Remember Mark Twain's humorous twist: "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave for another day

Similar to the original, but less idiomatic.

procrastinate

A single-word verb that means to delay or postpone something, often due to laziness or a lack of motivation.

delay until later

Implies a general postponement, without specifying that it's necessarily until the next day.

postpone

Suggests a more formal or official decision to reschedule something.

defer

Implies a more formal and often indefinite postponement.

shelve for the time being

Suggests putting something aside temporarily, possibly with no specific date for revisiting it.

hold off on

Means to delay taking action on something.

table it

Used in formal settings like meetings to postpone discussion of a topic.

kick the can down the road

Suggests delaying a problem or decision, often to avoid dealing with it now.

suspend until further notice

Indicates a temporary halt with no specific resumption date.

FAQs

What does "put off until tomorrow" mean?

The phrase "put off until tomorrow" means to postpone or delay doing something until the next day.

Is it always bad to "put off until tomorrow"?

Not necessarily. Sometimes delaying a task can allow for better planning or a more opportune time to complete it. However, consistently delaying important tasks can lead to procrastination and negative consequences.

What are some alternatives to "put off until tomorrow"?

You can use alternatives like "procrastinate", "postpone", or "delay until later" depending on the context.

How can I avoid having to "put off until tomorrow"?

Prioritize tasks, break them down into smaller steps, and set realistic deadlines. Avoid perfectionism and focus on making progress each day.