give off
To emit, discharge, or radiate something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "give" and "off." The heater is giving off a strange smell these days. She really gives off an angry vibe, so I thought she disliked me for the longest time! You'd be able to smell a gas leak—gas gives off a very specific odor.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
give something off
to release something, such as smoke, a noise, an odor, fragrance, etc. The little animal gave a foul smell off. The flower gave off its heavy perfume at dusk.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
give off
Send out, emit, as in Certain chemical changes give off energy, or This mixture gives off a very strange odor. [Early 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
give off
v. To emit, release, or radiate something: This chemical reaction gives off a lot of energy. The refrigerator gave off a strange odor.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.