Meaning & use
signs off on
Last updated
Meaning
phrasetransitive
Gives official approval for something, often by signing a document or giving permission.
Grammar: Transitive: sign off on something. The object comes after 'on'. Do not separate the parts: 'sign off on the plan', not 'sign the plan off on'.
Patterns
- sign off on something
- sign off on a plan
- sign off on a decision
- sign off on a budget
The manager signed off on the new budget yesterday.
The committee must sign off on all major purchases.
The editor signed off on the final version of the article.
Word forms
| third person singular | signs off on |
|---|---|
| past tense | signed off on |
| past participle | signed off on |
| -ing form | signing off on |
Common combinations
- sign off on a plan
- The board will sign off on the plan next week.
- sign off on a budget
- The finance director signed off on the budget.
- sign off on a decision
- The CEO signed off on the decision to close the store.
- refuse to sign off on something
- The lawyer refused to sign off on the contract.
Synonyms and how they differ
- approve
- Approve is more general and formal; 'sign off on' often implies a final, official step, sometimes with a signature.
- authorize
- Authorize means give official power to do something; 'sign off on' focuses on giving approval after checking.
Opposites
Word family
- sign off phrasal verb
- To end a letter, broadcast, or conversation, or to give approval (often followed by 'on').
Commonly confused: signs off on or sign for?
signs off on vs sign for
Sign for means accept delivery of something by signing; sign off on means give official approval.
Practice
The director hasn't ______ the proposal yet.
Choose one answer.
The phrasal verb is 'sign off on' and must include 'on' before the object. 'Signed off' alone means ended a conversation or broadcast, and 'signed off to' is not correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “signs off on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.