[Grammar] Phrasal verb ‘put off’ usage

[northpath]

Is the usage of the phrasal verb ‘put off’ instead of the verb ‘distract’ too British? For instance: ‘Stop singing - you put me off.”
Or it can be recommended as a standard (substation) substitution for that verb?

 

[Rover_KE]

It's a standard substitution.

This is a substation:

 

[northpath]

Sorry, it was a misprint!

 

[GoesStation]

The substitution doesn't work in American English. We don't use the phrasal verb put me off that way.

 

[andrewg927]

I have heard "off-putting" but "put someone off" means "to delay".

 

[GoesStation]

I have heard "off-putting" but "put someone off" means to delay.

Apparently it can mean "to distract" in BrE. In AmE it means "to delay" or "to repulse": I used to eat imitation crab, but I quit. A film of the manufacturing process put me off​ it.

 

[andrewg927]

Does it really mean "to distract"? I just looked it up and didn't find that definition. Never mind me. I didn't scroll down far enough.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, it really does mean that in BrE.

Let's say I am trying to complete a very precarious tower of playing cards. I am nearing the top and I have just a couple of cards to balance on top. At that moment, my friend starts shouting and waving, tickling me, trying anything to make it really difficult for me to concentrate on what I'm trying to do. My friend is trying to "put me off".

 

[SoothingDave]

I thought it mean to make you disgusted. Throwing up after all that tequila has really put me off Mexican restaurants.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yup, it means that too.

 

[probus]

I don't think anyone but the OP has yet discussed the other meaning of "to put off": to postpone or delay. E.g. I don't have time to meet with Paul today. Put him off until next week. Or: I keep putting off seeing my doctor, because I dread what she may have to tell me.

With respect to people's feelings I think in AmE it generally means to repel or disgust moderately. For example: I like going to that barbecue joint, but the crowds are a bit off-putting.