ring off

English

Verb

ring off (third-person singular simple present rings off, present participle ringing off, simple past rang off, past participle rung off)

1. (intransitive, telephony, British, Australia) To disconnect at the end of a phone call.
   • 2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 68:

     I thanked him and rang off.

2. (imperative, slang, dated) Buzz off; go away; shut up.
   • 1894, David Todd Praigg, Almetta, page 109:

     [S]he's not a Bloomer / But knows when she's got you at her wire's end. / It does no good to fret and fume and scoff, / For she all protests meets with "Oh, ring off!"

   • 1897, University of Virginia Magazine, page 183:

     “Oh! ring off on your rhapsodies!” John interjected.

   • 1969, George S. Schuyler, Black No More:

     " […] They say Crookman's going to open a sanitarium in Harlem right away. There's your chance, Big Boy, and it's your only chance." Bunny chuckled. "Oh, ring off," growled Max.

See also

• hang up

Anagrams

• Griffon, griffon, offring