释义 |
off-put Chiefly north.|ˈɒfpʊt, ˈɔː-| [f. off- 3 + put v.] An act of putting off (in any sense: see put v.). Also, one who puts off, procrastinates, or wastes time.
1730Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 458 The delays and off⁓puts in the matter of Mr. Glass are what I do not understand. 1835Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 36 He replied he was just setting off to town..I supposed this..a mere off-put. 1866S. Gilpin Songs & Ballads of Cumberland 57 It was just for an off-put. 1893–4R. O. Heslop Northumb. Words II. 509 Off-put, delay, one that puts off time. ‘Ye'r jeest an off-put o' time, laddy.’ 1923G. Watson Roxburghshire Word-Bk. 223 It was duist an offpit! A ken 'im owre weel! So off-put v. trans., to put off; to disconcert; to repel; ˈoff-ˌputter, one who puts off; spec. (on the Tyne), ‘the loader of coals into a vessel at a staith or spout’ (Heslop Northumberland Wds.); off-putting vbl. n. the action of putting off; off-putting ppl. a., that puts off; spec. creating an unfavourable impression, causing displeasure; off-ˈputtingly adv., in an off-putting manner; so as to disconcert or repel.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 409 Þanne he [Sergius] hym self occupiede þe poperiche. And in wreche of his of puttynge he made hem take up Formosus þe pope out of his grave, and smyte of his heed, and þrewe þe body into Tyber. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 19 Quhene the earle knew thair promisse of na effect bot ane offputting of tyme. 1788Act in Brand Newcastle (1789) I. 660 Acting as an off-putter or off-putters at any coal staith upon the said river. 1828Mrs. B. Hall Let. 25 June in Aristocratic Journey (1931) 295 Forgetting that we had exchanged dilatory off-putting habits of the South for the anticipation in appointments of the North. 1833Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. II. 234/1 Weel, mistress,..this off-putting will do nae langer. 1866W. Gregor Dial. Banffshire 6 Aff-pittan, the act of procrastination. 1893–4R. O. Heslop Northumb. Words II. 509 Offputtin, putting off, procrastinating, dallying. ‘He's varry offputtin.’ 1894Westm. Gaz. 20 Nov. 6/2 Sir John used to answer his affectionate suitors with an ‘off-putting’ type-written letter. 1935‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring xvii. 221 Your face isn't in the least off⁓putting, except when you're cross. 1951Wallace & Bagnall-Oakeley Norfolk vi. 66 The approach from the station is very off-putting:..Victorian and later ribbon-development soon started along the station road. 1955M. Allingham Beckoning Lady xii. 169 Very off-putting, homely finances. 1960M. Spark Bachelors viii. 120 ‘Shut up about Ronald,’ Tim said. ‘It's jolly off-putting.’ 1961Times 4 Nov. 9/4 There is something..off-puttingly impersonal about a typed letter. 1969D. Francis Enquiry ix. 122 Composed, cool, off-puttingly gracious, she looked..flawless. 1970Guardian Weekly 7 Nov. 15 The peculiarity of a faith that can..be so offput by the female of any species that not even a cow is allowed to pasteurise here. 1973Nature 16 Mar. 212/3 The appearance of the book is a little off-putting. 1974Country Life 18 July 174/1 All this may sound offputtingly sporty. 1977Verbatim Dec. 10/1 In case the number of pages is off-putting, it should be mentioned that the page size is 8-1/2{pp} × 11{pp}. |