start off
2 meanings
begin something in a particular way or with a particular thing
What does "start off" mean in this sense?
Examples
- Let's start off with a quick warm-up exercise before we get into the main topic.
- She started off by thanking everyone for coming, then moved on to the main presentation.
- The day started off badly when I missed my train, but it got better later on.
How to use it
Use this pattern to say what thing or activity comes first.
The trainer started off with a short quiz to get everyone thinking.
Use this pattern when describing an action that comes first — always use 'by' followed by the -ing form, not 'to + infinitive'.
The host started off by introducing all the guests at the table.
Use an adverb after 'start off' to describe the mood or quality of the beginning.
The interview started off well, so I felt more relaxed after the first few minutes.
This fixed phrase means to begin a situation in a good or bad way, especially in a relationship or new role.
She started off on the right foot by arriving early and being well prepared.
You can use a noun like 'the meeting' or 'the day' after 'start off' to show what is being opened or launched.
He always starts off the morning briefing with a summary of yesterday's results.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When a verb follows 'start off', you must use 'by + -ing', not 'to + infinitive'. Saying 'start off to explain' is not natural in English.
'Start out' is used for the beginning of a longer journey, career, or life process (e.g. starting out as an intern), while 'start off' focuses on how an event or activity opens. They are not always interchangeable.
'Start off' in this meaning is intransitive — nothing goes between 'start' and 'off'. Any extra information comes after the full phrasal verb.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and suitable for both spoken and written English, from casual conversation to professional meetings and presentations. It sounds natural in most everyday contexts and is slightly more informal than 'begin'.
make something begin or happen
Sense 2: What does "start sth off" mean?
Examples
- Nobody knows exactly what started off the argument between the two neighbours.
- A small misunderstanding started the whole crisis off.
- Do you think the new policy will start off a public debate?
How to use it
The most common pattern — a person or thing directly triggers an event or situation.
A careless comment at the meeting started off a heated argument that lasted for days.
When the object is a short noun phrase, it can be placed between the verb and the particle for a more natural, conversational feel.
The documentary started the whole debate off and people are still talking about it.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — placing it after 'off' is ungrammatical.
We still don't know what started it off, but the rumour spread quickly.
This question structure is very common, used when trying to identify the cause or origin of an event.
What started off the panic at the station? Was it a false alarm?
A cleft sentence structure used in narratives to put emphasis on the specific cause of an event.
It was a single tweet that started off the whole controversy.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'start' and 'off'. Placing the pronoun after the particle is ungrammatical.
'Set off' is more natural when something physically or mechanically triggers something — like an alarm or explosion. Use 'start off' for social or interpersonal events like arguments, rumours, or debates.
In this causative sense, 'start off' always needs an object — something that gets triggered. Without an object, 'start off' has a completely different meaning (to begin a journey or activity).
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and common in both spoken and written English, but it is slightly more colloquial than 'trigger' or 'initiate'. It appears frequently in questions and past-tense narratives explaining how an event or conflict began.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just say 'start' instead of 'start off'? Is there a difference?
Yes, 'start' alone is grammatically correct and often interchangeable. However, 'start off' adds a slight idiomatic flavour that emphasises the manner or content of the opening — it draws attention to how something begins. In spoken English especially, 'start off' sounds very natural.
Does 'start off' always need something after it, like 'with' or 'by'?
No — 'start off' can stand alone when the context is clear. For example, 'The presentation started off well' works without adding 'with' or 'by'. You only add those when you want to specify what came first or what action was taken.
Can 'start off' be used in the passive, like 'the meeting was started off'?
No — in this sense, 'start off' is intransitive, which means it has no direct object and cannot be made passive. Instead, you would say something like 'The meeting started off with a welcome speech.'
Does 'start off' have other meanings apart from beginning something in a particular way?
Yes, 'start off' can also be used in a different sense — to cause someone to begin doing something (for example, 'Don't start him off or he'll talk for hours!'). That meaning is quite different, so make sure the context matches the sense you intend.
What kinds of subjects can 'start off' have — only people?
No, the subject can be a person, a group, or even an event or period of time. You can say 'the teacher started off', 'the conference started off', or 'the week started off badly' — all are natural.
Does 'start off' always mean to cause something to happen? I've also seen it used differently.
No — 'start off' has more than one meaning. In this sense it's transitive and causative, meaning to trigger or set something in motion (e.g. 'What started off the rumour?'). In a different sense, it's intransitive and simply means to begin or depart — for example, 'We started off early in the morning.' The key difference is whether there's a direct object.
Can I use 'start off' in the passive, like 'The crisis was started off by...'?
It's grammatically possible, but it sounds unnatural and native speakers almost never say it. Stick to active constructions — for example, 'A poor decision started off the crisis' sounds much more natural than 'The crisis was started off by a poor decision.'
What kinds of things can be 'started off'? Can I use it for physical events?
'Start off' works best with social, emotional, or interpersonal events — things like arguments, debates, rumours, panics, trends, and chain reactions. For physical or mechanical triggers (like an alarm or an explosion), 'set off' is usually the better choice.
Is 'start off' more common in questions and past tenses?
Yes — this phrasal verb appears most naturally when you're looking back at events and asking or explaining how something began. Structures like 'What started it off?' or 'It was her comment that started the whole thing off' are very typical. It can be used in other tenses, but future continuous and past continuous forms sound forced and are best avoided.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Ready to practise?
Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.
Start Practising →