start off

empezar, comenzar

Empezar una actividad, a menudo de una manera determinada.

En inglés sencillo: To begin an activity, often in a particular way.

• Let us start off with a game.
• He started off as a teacher.
• The meeting started off well but ended badly.

Cómo se usa: start off with something (We started off with a simple exercise.); start off by doing something (Start off by washing your hands.); start off as something (She started off as a shop assistant.)

Sinónimos: begin, start

Antónimos: finish, end

Expresiones frecuentes: start off slowly, start off well, start off with something

partir, ponerse en camino

Salir de un lugar para comenzar un viaje.

En inglés sencillo: To leave a place and begin a journey.

• We started off early.
• They started off for home after lunch.
• What time should we start off tomorrow?

Cómo se usa: start off for somewhere (We started off for the coast at dawn.); start off on something (They started off on their journey after breakfast.)

Sinónimos: set off, set out

Antónimos: arrive

Expresiones frecuentes: start off early, start off home

hacer empezar, provocar

Hacer que alguien empiece a reír, llorar o hablar de un tema habitual.

En inglés sencillo: To make someone begin laughing, crying, or talking about a familiar subject.

• That joke started him off laughing.
• Mentioning her dog started her off crying again.
• Do not start him off about his old job.

Cómo se usa: start someone off on/about something (Do not start her off on politics.); start someone off doing something (That joke started us all off laughing.)

Sinónimos: set off, trigger

Expresiones frecuentes: start someone off, start someone off laughing