off-the-cuff

off-the-cuff
off-the-cuff
Fig. spontaneous; without preparation or rehearsal. •

Her remarks were off-the-cuff, but very sensible.

I'm not very good at making speeches off-the-cuff.

* * *
{adj.}, {informal} Not prepared ahead of time. - Used of a speech or remarks. * /Jack was made master of ceremonies because he was a good off-the-cuff speaker./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • off-the-cuff — {adj.}, {informal} Not prepared ahead of time. Used of a speech or remarks. * /Jack was made master of ceremonies because he was a good off the cuff speaker./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • off-the-cuff — adj. with little or no preparation or forethought; unrehearsed; extemporaneous; offhand. his off the cuff remarks offended many people; an off the cuff toast Syn: ad lib, extemporaneous, extemporary, extempore, offhand, offhanded, unpremeditated …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • off-the-cuff — adjective, adverb if you say something off the cuff, you do not plan it or think about it first: an off the cuff reply/remark/comment She s very good at speaking on these issues off the cuff …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • off-the-cuff — adj [usually before noun] an off the cuff remark, reply etc is one that you make without thinking about it first = ↑spontaneous >off the cuff adv …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • off the cuff — If you do something off the cuff, you do it without any preparation …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • off the cuff — ► off the cuff informal without preparation. [ORIGIN: as if from notes jotted on one s shirt cuffs.] Main Entry: ↑cuff …   English terms dictionary

  • off the cuff — [adj] impromptu ad lib, extemporaneous, improv*, improvised, improviso, off hand, played by ear*, shot from the hip*, spontaneous, spur of the moment, unpremeditated, unprepared, unrehearsed, unscripted, whipped up*, winged*; concept 267 …   New thesaurus

  • off-the-cuff — off′ the cuff′ adj. with little or no preparation; impromptu • Etymology: 1940 …   From formal English to slang

  • off the cuff — adverb without preparation the presidential candidate made a remark off the cuff * * * (informal) 1 an off the cuff remark: IMPROMPTU, extempore, ad lib; unrehearsed, unscripted, unprepared …   Useful english dictionary

  • off-the-cuff — adjective with little or no preparation or forethought his ad lib comments showed poor judgment an extemporaneous piano recital an extemporary lecture an extempore skit an impromptu speech offhand excuses trying to sound offhanded and reassuring …   Useful english dictionary

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