tick off

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 mark something on a list as done B1
  2. 2 annoy or upset someone B2
1 tick sth off

mark something on a list as done

B1

What does "tick off" mean in this sense?

To tick off an item means to put a tick mark (✓) next to it on a list to show that it is done or dealt with. You might use it when working through a to-do list, a shopping list, or a checklist of requirements. It is very common in British English, especially in everyday situations where you want to keep track of progress. The idea is that each tick shows something has been completed, so you can see clearly what is left to do. It works well for goals, travel destinations, tasks at work, or any situation where you move through a list one item at a time.

Examples

How to use it

tick off + item/task/name

The most common pattern, used when the object is a longer noun phrase that follows the particle.

She ticked off every requirement on the application form before submitting it.

tick + item/task/name + off

Used when the object is a short noun phrase — separating the verb and particle sounds very natural in this case.

He ticked each name off as the guests arrived.

tick + pronoun + off

When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between the verb and particle.

Add the tasks to your list, then tick them off one by one.

tick off + item + as + clause

Often used with 'as' to describe marking items at the same time as completing them.

Tick off each step as you finish it so you don't lose your place.

be ticked off

The passive is natural when the focus is on the item being completed rather than the person doing it.

All the tasks on the list had been ticked off by the end of the day.

Common Collocations

tick off a listtick off taskstick off itemstick off namestick off goalstick off the checklist

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'tick' and 'off'. Putting it after the particle is ungrammatical in English.

✗ I finished the task, so I ticked off it.
✓ I finished the task, so I ticked it off.
Confusing tick off with cross off

'Tick off' means to add a tick (✓) to show something is done, while 'cross off' means to draw a line through something to cancel or remove it. The two actions have different meanings, so they are not interchangeable.

✗ She ticked off her ex-boyfriend's name from the wedding guest list.
✓ She crossed off her ex-boyfriend's name from the wedding guest list.
Using a person as the object

In this sense, the object should be a task, item, goal, or name — not a person directly. If a person appears as the object, the sentence shifts to the other meaning of 'tick off', which is to scold someone.

✗ The manager ticked off the new employee. (if you mean she marked a checklist)
✓ The manager ticked off the new employee's name on the attendance sheet.

Usage

This is British English — American speakers say 'check off' instead. It is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written contexts, especially instructions and to-do lists.

2 tick sb off

annoy or upset someone

B2

Sense 2: What does "tick sb off" mean?

To tick someone off means to annoy or irritate them, often because of something unfair, inconsiderate, or frustrating. It describes the kind of irritation that builds up when something keeps happening — like a colleague who is always late, or a service that keeps letting you down. The feeling is stronger than mild annoyance but not as intense as rage; it suggests genuine frustration with a specific cause. This sense is strongly associated with American English, so you're most likely to encounter it in American TV shows, films, and everyday conversation. In British English, the same combination of words usually has different meanings, so it's worth being aware of your audience.

Examples

How to use it

subject + tick + object + off

This is the standard pattern. The object — especially a pronoun — almost always goes between 'tick' and 'off', not after 'off'.

It really ticks me off when someone takes credit for my work.

it/that + tick + object + off

The subject is typically an impersonal 'it' or a demonstrative 'that', pointing to the cause of the irritation.

That kind of attitude really ticks everyone off.

be ticked off + about/at

The passive form 'ticked off' is very commonly used as an adjective to describe someone's emotional state, followed by 'about' (a situation) or 'at' (a person).

He was pretty ticked off at his manager after being passed over for the promotion.

nothing ticks + object + off more than + noun/gerund

This emphatic pattern is used to highlight the most irritating thing for a particular person.

Nothing ticks her off more than people showing up to meetings unprepared.

it ticks + object + off + when-clause

Use a 'when' clause after 'off' to specify the behaviour or situation that causes the irritation.

It ticks me off when the delivery arrives late and nobody even apologises.

Common Collocations

it really ticks me offticked off aboutticked off atnothing ticks me off morecompletely ticked offticks everyone off

Common Mistakes

Pronoun after 'off'

Pronoun objects must go between 'tick' and 'off', not after 'off'. Placing a pronoun after 'off' sounds unnatural and is incorrect.

✗ It really ticks off me when people are rude.
✓ It really ticks me off when people are rude.
British vs. American meaning

In British English, 'tick off' most commonly means to mark an item on a list or to scold someone — not to annoy them. If your audience is British, the 'annoy' meaning may not be understood, so 'wind up' or 'annoy' would be safer choices.

Unseparated form with a noun object

'Tick off someone' (unseparated with a noun) sounds unnatural. Always separate the verb by placing the object between 'tick' and 'off'.

✗ That kind of comment ticks off people immediately.
✓ That kind of comment ticks people off immediately.

Usage

This is mainly American English; in British English, 'tick off' more often means to mark a list or scold someone. Use 'wind up' (BrE) or 'annoy' as safer alternatives in British contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tick off' only used in British English?

Yes, this sense of 'tick off' is distinctly British English. American English speakers would normally say 'check off' instead, which means the same thing. If you are writing for an international audience, 'check off' is more widely understood.

Does 'tick off' always mean marking a list? I've heard it used differently.

No, 'tick off' has more than one meaning in British English. In informal British speech, it can also mean to reprimand or scold someone. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the object — if it's a task, item, or goal, it's about marking a list; if it's a person, it's about scolding them.

Can I use 'tick off' for things like travel goals or bucket lists?

Absolutely — this is one of the most natural uses. Saying you're ticking off countries you've visited or experiences on your bucket list is very common in everyday British English. The idea is the same: you're recording or confirming that something has been done or achieved.

Can 'tick off' be used in the passive?

Yes, the passive sounds natural, especially in procedural or instructional contexts. For example, 'Each item should be ticked off before moving to the next stage' is perfectly correct and common in written instructions or workplace settings.

Is 'tick off' mainly American English?

Yes, this sense of 'tick off' — meaning to annoy or irritate — is strongly associated with American English. British English speakers are more likely to say 'wind up' or simply 'annoy'. In British English, 'tick off' more often means marking something on a list or telling someone off, so it's worth knowing your audience before using it.

Can 'ticked off' be used like an adjective?

Absolutely — this is one of the most common ways the phrase is used. You can say 'I'm so ticked off right now' or 'she looked completely ticked off', where 'ticked off' describes a person's emotional state rather than an action. It works much like other emotional adjectives such as 'annoyed' or 'frustrated'.

Does 'tick off' always have a specific cause?

Usually, yes. 'Tick off' tends to describe irritation triggered by a particular behaviour, situation, or person. You'll typically see it paired with a cause — 'ticked off about the delay', 'ticked off at her colleague', or 'it ticks me off when...'. It's less natural to use it to describe a general, sourceless bad mood.

How strong is the feeling — is it the same as being furious?

Not quite. Being 'ticked off' sits somewhere between mild annoyance and real anger — it suggests genuine frustration rather than rage. It's stronger than 'slightly bothered' but doesn't carry the same intensity as 'furious' or 'livid'. Think of it as the feeling you get when something unfair or inconsiderate keeps happening to you.

Can 'tick off' describe a person as the subject, or does it have to be a thing?

It can be either. A situation or thing is often the subject ('the noise ticks me off', 'that rule ticks everyone off'), but a person can be the subject too ('he ticks me off every time he does that'). What matters is that the subject is the cause of the irritation, not the person who feels it.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →