live off

use something or someone as your source of money or food

B2

What does "live off sth/sb" mean?

To live off something or someone means to rely on that person or thing as your main source of money or food. It highlights where the support or sustenance is coming from — for example, a retired person might live off their pension, or someone between jobs might live off their savings. When used about food, it often implies a diet that is exclusive or limited in some way, sometimes with a humorous or critical edge ('He lives off takeaways'). When the source of support is another person or a government body, the phrase can carry a mildly negative connotation of dependence. The fixed phrase 'live off the land' — meaning to survive by growing, hunting, or foraging your own food — is especially common and worth learning as a set expression.

Examples

How to use it

live off + noun (financial source)

The most common pattern: the object is a financial source such as savings, a pension, or investments.

After retiring early, she lived off her investments for years.

live off + noun (person or institution)

Use this pattern when the source of support is a person or organisation, such as a family member or the state.

He's been living off his parents since he graduated, which is starting to cause tension.

live off + noun (food source)

When used about food, this pattern suggests a diet that is narrow, exclusive, or noteworthy in some way.

During their camping trip, they lived off tinned food and whatever they could find in the forest.

live off + pronoun

Pronouns follow 'off' directly, just as nouns do — the structure never changes.

She inherited a small fortune and has been living off it ever since.

used to + live off + noun

This pattern is useful for talking about a past period of dependence that is no longer the case.

When I was a student, I used to live off cheap pasta and whatever was on offer.

Common Collocations

live off savingslive off the landlive off benefitslive off a pensionlive off investmentslive off parents

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'live off' with 'live on'

'Live off' focuses on the source of support or supply ('live off savings'), while 'live on' focuses on the amount or specific item consumed, often implying sufficiency or insufficiency ('live on £600 a month'). Avoid using 'live off' with a specific monetary amount.

✗ She lives off only £400 a month.
✓ She lives on only £400 a month. / She lives off her monthly allowance.
Trying to separate the verb

'Live off' is inseparable, so the object must always come directly after 'off'. You cannot place the object between 'live' and 'off'.

✗ He lived his savings off during the gap year.
✓ He lived off his savings during the gap year.
Adding unnecessary 'of' in British English

In American English, you may hear 'live off of', but this extra 'of' is considered non-standard in British English and is unnecessary in both varieties. 'Live off' is the standard form.

✗ They lived off of donations from the local community.
✓ They lived off donations from the local community.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both British and American English. In AmE, you may also hear 'live off of', but this is considered informal and non-standard in BrE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'live off' be used in the passive, like 'the savings were lived off'?

No — 'live off' cannot be used in the passive. The person doing the depending is always the subject of the sentence. You would simply say 'He lived off the savings' rather than trying to reframe it passively.

Does 'live off the land' mean something different from 'live off'?

'Live off the land' is a fixed idiomatic phrase meaning to survive entirely by farming, hunting, fishing, or foraging — without relying on shops or outside income. It follows the same basic meaning of 'live off' but is used as a set expression with its own established feel.

Is 'live off' negative or critical in tone?

Not always, but it can be. When someone lives off another person or the state, the phrase sometimes implies unwanted dependence — though context determines the tone. When used about food ('she lives off fruit and vegetables') or financial independence ('he lives off rental income'), it is usually neutral or even positive.

What kinds of things can follow 'live off'?

The object is typically a financial source (savings, a pension, investments, benefits, dividends), a person or institution providing support (parents, the state), or a food source (fruit and vegetables, junk food, the land). Avoid using specific monetary amounts as the object — those work better with 'live on'.

Can I use 'live off' to talk about the past, or is it mainly for present situations?

'Live off' works naturally across many tenses. You can use it in the past simple ('she lived off her savings'), the present perfect ('he has always lived off his family'), or with 'used to' for past habits ('they used to live off the land'). It's flexible and not restricted to the present.

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