something is off about

USAGE SUMMARY

"something is off about" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you recognize that something is not quite right or when something seems a little strange. For example, "I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is off about the way she has been acting lately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Perhaps those cautionary "voices" Mr. Wolfe writes about are his conscience telling him that his children know something is off about his behavior.

The New York Times

He knows something is off about Alison's story, but I don't think he's going to quite put his finger on what happened.

Huffington Post

So, I think something is off about Noel's story, but we're slowly getting some details about everything going down in Rosewood.

Huffington Post

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends alerting your local water utility if you think something is off about the water coming out of your tap, or your local health department if you'd like your water tested. .

Huffington Post

If he just gives you that yucky feeling: If you feel like something is off about him tell someone like your mom or best friend, listen to your gut-it's usually right!

WikiHow

If you find that the company doesn't sound like it would be a good fit for you, or you feel like something is off about the company, stop the application process.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Something was off" about Mr. Martin, he told the police.

The New York Times

He knew Julie was always careful to let her children know where she would be, and he couldn't shake a feeling that something was off about the text messages.

The New York Times - Science

I could tell something was off about him.

Vice

At least Amador's history with Coulson meant that she noticed something was "off" about him.

Huffington Post

I can immediately tell that something was off about our energy.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something is off about" to express a vague sense of unease or suspicion when you can't pinpoint the exact problem. It's great for describing intuition or gut feelings.

Common error

While "something is off about" is acceptable, it can sound informal. In professional or academic writing, consider more precise and formal alternatives such as "something seems amiss" or "there are inconsistencies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something is off about" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate a vague sense of unease or suspicion. According to Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase in English. It is often used when someone perceives that something is not quite right, even if they cannot explicitly identify the issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

23%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "something is off about" is a useful idiom for expressing a vague sense of unease or suspicion, indicating that something doesn't feel quite right without being able to pinpoint the exact problem. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, with examples spanning news, media, and informal contexts. While it's generally acceptable, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing. Keep in mind that while this phrase is acceptable and serves the purpose to signal that something is wrong, it does not explicitly specifies what is wrong. Be ready to explain more if needed. Remember to consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something is not quite right with

Emphasizes the subtlety of the issue; it's not overtly wrong, just 'not quite right'.

something doesn't seem right with

Uses a more direct and common expression to indicate something is not correct.

something feels wrong with

Focuses on a feeling or intuition about something being incorrect.

there's something strange about

Highlights the unusual or peculiar nature of something.

there's something odd about

Emphasizes the bizarreness or unusual nature of something.

something seems amiss with

Changes the wording to a more formal tone using 'amiss'.

there's something peculiar about

Uses 'peculiar' to denote oddness or distinctiveness.

there's something fishy about

Implies suspicion or dishonesty.

I sense something is amiss with

Conveys personal sensing something wrong.

my gut tells me something is wrong with

Indicates a strong, intuitive feeling that something is not right.

FAQs

How can I use "something is off about" in a sentence?

You can use "something is off about" to express that you feel that something is wrong, strange, or not quite right, even if you cannot explain why. For example, "Something is off about his story; I don't believe him".

What does "something is off about" mean?

It means that something doesn't seem right or feels wrong in a way that is difficult to define. It suggests a sense of unease or suspicion based on intuition or subtle cues.

What can I say instead of "something is off about"?

You can use alternatives such as "something seems amiss with", "something doesn't seem right with", or "there's something fishy about" depending on the context.

Is "something is off about" formal or informal?

"Something is off about" leans towards the informal side. In more formal contexts, you might opt for phrases like "something seems amiss with" or "there are inconsistencies". In casual conversation, the original phrase is perfectly acceptable.