Meaning & use
block offs
Last updated
“block offs” is a form of “block off”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phraseplural
The act of closing a road, area, or passage so that people or vehicles cannot go through.
Grammar: Countable plural noun; the singular is 'block off' but it is rarely used.
Patterns
- a block off of something
- block offs on a road
The police set up block offs on all the main roads into the city.
Because of the marathon, there were several block offs in the downtown area.
phraseplural
Situations where someone or something is stopped from moving or progressing.
Grammar: Often used figuratively to describe obstacles in plans or progress.
Patterns
- block offs in a process
- create block offs
The project faced several block offs due to lack of funding.
We need to remove the block offs that are slowing down production.
Word forms
| singular | block off |
|---|
Common combinations
- set up block offs
- The organizers set up block offs around the parade route.
- remove block offs
- Workers removed the block offs after the event ended.
- temporary block offs
- Temporary block offs will be in place during the construction.
Synonyms and how they differ
- barricades
- Physical barriers that block a road or path; 'block offs' can also refer to the act of blocking or the resulting situation.
- closures
- Official acts of closing something; 'block offs' is more informal and often refers to temporary measures.
Opposites
Word family
- block off phrasal verb
- To close or obstruct a road, area, or passage.
Commonly confused: block offs or blockade?
block offs vs blockade
A blockade is a military or political act of surrounding a place to stop goods or people from entering or leaving; 'block offs' are usually smaller, temporary closures.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'block offs' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses 'block offs' as a plural noun meaning road closures. Option 1 uses it as a verb phrase but the subject 'He' would require 'blocks off', not 'block offs'. Option 2 is grammatically wrong because 'are block offs' is not a correct verb form. Option 3 uses a plural noun with a singular verb 'is'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “block offs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.