student asking question

What's the difference between "step off" and "jump off"? Can I say "jump off" instead in this case?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Great question! To "step off" means to take your leg off of a surface and lightly land on the ground with the other leg following after. To "jump off" means to push yourself off of a surface and into the air with both feet and land with both feet onto a different surface. These two words are not interchangeable. However, "jump off" could have been used in this song. Billie Eilish may have liked the sound of "stepped off" better for her lyrics instead of "jumped off." Ex: She stepped off the stage. Ex: They stepped off the train. Ex: She jumped off the diving board and fell into the pool. Ex: The cat jumped off his lap.

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