off the cuff

O o

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [awf, of stressed th ee kuhf]
- /ɔf, ɒf stressed ði kʌf/
- /ɒf ðə kʌf/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [awf, of stressed th ee kuhf]
- /ɔf, ɒf stressed ði kʌf/

Definitions of off the cuff words

adjective off the cuff with little or no preparation; extemporaneous; impromptu: a speaker with a good off-the-cuff delivery. 1
noun off the cuff a fold or band serving as a trimming or finish for the bottom of a sleeve. 1
noun off the cuff a turned-up fold, as at the bottom of a trouser leg. 1
noun off the cuff the part of a gauntlet or long glove that extends over the wrist. 1
noun off the cuff a separate or detachable band or piece of fabric worn about the wrist, inside or outside of the sleeve. 1
noun off the cuff an elasticized, ribbed, or reinforced band at the top of a sock or stocking. 1

See all 19 definitions of off the cuff

Information block about the term

Origin of off the cuff

First appearance:

before 1940

One of the 7% newest English words

First recorded in 1940-45

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Off the cuff

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Off the cuff

off the cuff popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 32% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 58% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

off the cuff usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for off the cuff

adv off the cuff

ad-lib — If you ad-lib something in a play or a speech, you say something which has not been planned or written beforehand.
confidentially — Confidentially is used to say that what you are telling someone is a secret and should not be discussed with anyone else.
hushedly — to become or be silent or quiet: They hushed as the judge walked in.
in confidence — full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.
in on the ground floor — in at the beginning (of a business, etc.) and thus in an especially advantageous position

adj off the cuff

by ear — without reading from written music
impromptu — made or done without previous preparation: an impromptu address to the unexpected crowds.
improv — improvisation.
improvisatory — of, relating to, or characteristic of an improvisation or improvisator.

adverb off the cuff

extemporaneously — In an extemporaneous manner; without prior preparation or planning.
improvised — made or said without previous preparation: an improvised skit.
makeshift — a temporary expedient or substitute: We used boxes as a makeshift while the kitchen chairs were being painted.

adjective off the cuff

extemporary — Extemporaneous.
improviso — (obsolete) Not prepared beforehand; unpremeditated; extemporaneous.
offhand — cavalierly, curtly, or brusquely: to reply offhand.

All 16 Synonyms of off the cuff