warn off
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To directly or indirectly persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I soon found I should be knocked entirely to pieces by the graze and jam of the boxes and scrippage, as the tide of carrier-ponies crushed past me, if I did not look sharply out and warn them off with my whip.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “warn off” mean?
To directly or indirectly persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.
Is “warn off” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.