Use of "off" and "on"

Question

1. "I live off the M.B. Street/Road."2. "There is a bathroom off the main bedroom" What is the meaning of "off" in the above sentences ?According to dicionaries "off" here means "leading away from" , but I don't quite understand what that means. Can't we replace the "off" with "on" in similar sentences and still express the same meaning ?For example "a town on the coast", "a house on the Thames", "He lives on the main road"  etc.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1. "I live offthe M.B. Street/Road."

2. "There is a bathroom off the main bedroom"

What is the meaning of "off" in the above sentences ?

According to dicionaries "off" here means "leading away from" , but I don't quite understand what that means.

Can't we replace the "off" with "on" in similar sentences and still express the same meaning ?

For example "a town on the coast", "a house on the Thames", "He lives on the main road" etc.

Tom lives on ABC Street. His address is eg 73 ABC Street. His house is part of ABC Street.

Tom lives off ABC Street. His address is eg 45 DEF Street, and DEF Street is connected to ABC Street.

eg You can drive up ABC Street, and then turn left on to DEF Street.

Clive

Debpriya De · Answer

Thanks Clive,

When you say "His address is 73 ABC Street", do you mean that his residence is alongside the ABC street or just near it ?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The former.

Clive

Use of "off" and "on"

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