What are the definitions of “ship off”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Send someone away, often because of a problem.
He was causing a lot of trouble, so they SHIPPED him OFF to another branch.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “ship off”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb ship off is to send someone or something away, usually because of a problem or to get rid of them. For example, it can mean sending a troublesome employee to another location or sending a package to a different place.
What are the different verb forms of “ship off”?
| Root Verb | ship off |
| Third Person Singular Present | ships off |
| Present Participle | shipping off |
| Simple Past | shipped off |
| Past Participle | shipped off |
Example
They decided to ship off the old furniture to a charity.
Example
She ships off the packages to her customers every week.
Example
He is shipping off the faulty products to the manufacturer for a refund.
Example
Yesterday, they shipped off the troublemaker to another department.
Example
The broken equipment was shipped off to the repair center.
What kind of phrasal verb is “ship off”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“ship off” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The company shipped off the defective products.
Example
She shipped her son off to boarding school.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“ship off” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The company shipped off the defective products.
Example
She shipped her son off to boarding school.
Good things to know
Does “ship off” have an informal or formal tone?
Ship off is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in casual conversations. In more formal settings, alternative phrases such as 'send away' or 'relocate' may be more appropriate.
