Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [awf-hand, of-]
- /ˈɔfˈhænd, ˈɒf-/
- /ˌɒfˈhænd/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [awf-hand, of-]
- /ˈɔfˈhænd, ˈɒf-/
Definitions of offhand word
- adverb offhand cavalierly, curtly, or brusquely: to reply offhand. 1
- adverb offhand without previous thought or preparation; extempore: to decide offhand to take a trip. 1
- adjective offhand informal, casual, curt, or brusque: an offhand manner. 1
- adjective offhand Also, offhanded. done or made offhand. 1
- adjective offhand Glassmaking. working manually and without the use of molds: offhand blowing. 1
- noun offhand Ungraciously or offensively nonchalant or cool in manner. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of offhand
First appearance:
before 1685 One of the 48% oldest English words
First recorded in 1685-95; off + hand
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Offhand
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
offhand popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
offhand usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for offhand
adjective offhand
- impromptu — made or done without previous preparation: an impromptu address to the unexpected crowds.
- extemporaneous — Spoken or done without preparation.
- improvised — made or said without previous preparation: an improvised skit.
- unrehearsed — to practice (a musical composition, a play, a speech, etc.) in private prior to a public presentation.
- spontaneous — coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned: a spontaneous burst of applause.
adverb offhand
- improv — improvisation.
- at will — If you can do something at will, you can do it when you want and as much as you want.
- by ear — without reading from written music
- off the top of one's head — the upper part of the body in humans, joined to the trunk by the neck, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
- ad libitum — (to be performed) at the performer's discretion
Antonyms for offhand
adjective offhand
- premeditated — done deliberately; planned in advance: a premeditated murder.
- serious — of, showing, or characterized by deep thought.
- calculated — If something is calculated to have a particular effect, it is specially done or arranged in order to have that effect.
- careful — If you are careful, you give serious attention to what you are doing, in order to avoid harm, damage, or mistakes. If you are careful to do something, you make sure that you do it.
- considered — A considered opinion or act is the result of careful thought.
Top questions with offhand
- what does offhand mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with o
- Words starting with of
- Words starting with off
- Words starting with offh
- Words starting with offha
- Words starting with offhan
- Words starting with offhand