tick me off

USAGE SUMMARY

"tick me off" is a correct and commonly used phrase in spoken and written English.
It means to annoy, irritate, or make someone angry. Example: My boss really ticked me off when she criticized my work in front of everyone. I was so mad, I had to take a walk to calm down.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

You're just trying to tick me off".

The New York Times - Sports

"She was starting to tick me off," said Ms. Griffith, a retired legal secretary from Astoria.

The New York Times

"Statements like his tick me off, but when you win all those championships, you can say what you want, I guess".

The New York Times - Sports

A crack about Jew-fros from the flaxen-haired Jan Brady would tick me off, whereas Greg or Peter, who sported them in later seasons of "The Brady Bunch," could get away with it.

The New York Times

But he will undoubtedly hear other lectures from Chaney as soon as today, because Chaney promised that if his players are not back in class, "that will tick me off, and I'll yell at them".

The New York Times - Sports

This is where the Oilers really tick me off: they ruin the kids that they draft.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"It ticked me off," Tomlinson said.

The New York Times - Sports

"My wife, Kay, ticks me off about it," he says.

The Guardian - Music

It ticks me off when I see permits abused.

The New York Times

Every time I heard 'America's Team,' it ticked me off".

The New York Times - Sports

"Now it ticks me off that I don't know where the dirt is," Messing said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tick me off" when you want to express personal annoyance or irritation in a casual or informal setting. It's more impactful than simply saying "annoy me".

Common error

While "tick me off" is acceptable in informal communication, it's best to avoid it in professional or academic writing. Opt for more formal alternatives such as "irritate" or "annoy" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tick me off" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It expresses a subjective emotional reaction, specifically annoyance or irritation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tick me off" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to convey annoyance or irritation. As Ludwig AI points out, its informal register makes it suitable for casual conversation and news reporting, but less appropriate for formal writing. Alternatives such as "annoy me" or "irritate me" may be preferred in professional contexts. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media sources. Therefore, while effective for expressing personal feelings, it's important to consider the audience and context when using "tick me off".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

annoy me

Replaces the idiomatic "tick off" with the more direct verb "annoy".

irritate me

Similar to "annoy me" but suggests a slightly milder form of aggravation.

make me angry

More explicit about the emotion caused, focusing on anger.

get on my nerves

An idiomatic expression indicating something is bothersome.

rub me the wrong way

Suggests something causes friction or discomfort.

aggravate me

Similar to "irritate me" but can imply a more prolonged or intense annoyance.

ruffle my feathers

Idiomatic, implying a slight disturbance or annoyance.

drive me up the wall

Expresses a feeling of extreme frustration or irritation.

infuriate me

A stronger word indicating a higher level of anger.

bother me

A general term for causing disturbance or mild annoyance.

FAQs

What does "tick me off" mean?

The phrase "tick me off" means to annoy, irritate, or make someone angry. It's an informal way of expressing displeasure.

How can I use "tick me off" in a sentence?

You can say something like, "It really "ticks me off" when people are late for meetings" or "His constant complaining started to "tick me off"."

What's a more formal way to say "tick me off"?

For more formal situations, consider using alternatives like "annoy me", "irritate me", or "displease me".

Is it correct to say "ticked me off" instead of "tick me off"?

Yes, "ticked me off" is the past tense form of the phrase. For example, "His behavior yesterday really "ticked me off"."