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What put to sea with seventy-five."

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

one-off, two-off etc.

English answer:

Common UK English usage for quantities of an article, in order forms, inventories etc.

Added to glossary by Jack Doughty
Sep 10, 2007 14:15
16 yrs ago
English term

off

English Bus/Financial Business/Commerce (general)
Dear speakers of British English,

Please advise/comment on the following usage of the preposition "off":

"Could you give me price and delivery for 4 off special {chemical formula} polished window pieces, diameter XXX mm (+0.0/ -0.1mm) x length YYY mm (+0.0/ -0.2mm)."

I'm fairly certain this is not a misprint, but even if it is, there are many more similar examples where "off" seems to be used to mean "pieces of".

I will also appreciate comments concerning other dialects of English, but keep in mind that the author of this piece is from Ireland.

Thank you in advance!
Responses
4 +5 Yes, common UK English usage, but I would include a hyphen
4 special
Change log

Sep 24, 2007 06:45: Jack Doughty Created KOG entry

Responses

+5
4 mins
Selected

Yes, common UK English usage, but I would include a hyphen

for 4-off special....window pieces
The expression is only used in lists such as this, inventories and so on.
Peer comment(s):
agree Sheila Wilson : I've never seen it written down but I've heard it in warehouses, stores, purchasing depts etc
12 mins
Thank you.
agree David Moore (X)
21 mins
Thank you.
agree William [Bill] Gray : Agree also that it's really a colloquial spoken phrase, not usually found written.
55 mins
Thank you. Not sure as to whether it's more commonly spoken or written, I've come across both.
neutral Caroline Moreno : So, could someone advise a Yankee on what it means and how to use it? Much obliged.
5 hrs
I suppose you might say it means "of them". E.g. in an inventory list: machines, mincing, small, 4-off, means four small mincing machines.
agree Ken Cox : Distinctly UK usage, although I first learned it from Brits who emigrated to Canada, and a lot of Canadians understand it as well
6 hrs
Thank you.
agree Sajjad Hamadani
12 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
7 mins

special

It's usually "one off", as in "one-off offer", "he's a one-off", but it's been extended to four.
Something went wrong...
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