separate (off)

[kadioguy]

separate off [phrasal verb]

separate (someone or something) off or separate off (someone or something)
: to cause (someone or something) to be separate from other people or things

He separated himself off from the crowd in the subway.

https://learnersdictionary.com/definition/separate
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a. He separated himself off from the crowd in the subway.

b. He separated himself from the crowd in the subway. (Non off)

Do (a) and (b) have different effect?

 

[jutfrank]

Adding off adds something. What do you think it could be?

 

[kadioguy]

Adding off adds something. What do you think it could be?

a. He separated himself off from the crowd in the subway.

b. He separated himself from the crowd in the subway. (Non off)

I assume that (a) means he made himself move apart from the crowd and went another way to leave, whereas (b) could only mean he didn't touch but may still stay with the crowd in the same place.

 

[jutfrank]

No, the version with off simply emphasises the separation.