1. delay doing something, make it difficult for someone to do something
Professional
Social
put off doing something/put someone off their stride
The phrasal verb 'put off' has a number of meanings in English you can put off something meaning to delay doing it or to postpone something. "We will have to put off the Christmas party until the new year." If you try to 'put someone off' you make them wait for something or try to change their mind about wanting something. "Her father put her off getting a petrol car by telling her the cost of fuel was very high." To 'put someone off' something also means to encourage them to actively dislike it. "Seeing my sister struggle with diabetes has put me off eating unhealthy food." "My mother-in-law's cooking has put me off eating meat." If someone 'puts you off' something it can mean they have distracted you or made it difficult to do something. "I was trying to study but the loud music from next door keeps putting me off." This is a popular phrasal verb used in social and professional contexts.