View synonyms for

off-the-cuff

[ awf-thuh-kuhf, of- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

with little or no preparation; extemporaneous; impromptu:
a speaker with a good off-the-cuff delivery.

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-the-cuff¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Impromptu, extemporaneous, as in His speech was entirely off the cuff . This term supposedly alludes to the practice of speakers making last-minute notes on the cuff of a shirtsleeve. [1930s]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The initial 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, for instance, came out of an off-the-cuff remark to a reporter during a televised Oval Office session on his first day back.

From

Rapid executive orders and the president's willingness to announce his policies on social media or in off-the-cuff remarks have already shown the ability to move markets.

From

Though an outsider in the family, Jackie’s comedic chops have rendered him a fan favorite for his off-the-cuff lines and seamless delivery.

From

Indeed, Trump has long been advised to “flood the zone” with so many off-the-cuff and preposterous ideas and promises that the opposition can barely adjust to establishment news formats to counter them.

From

Others were offered seemingly off-the-cuff - a product of Trump's "think out loud" style and openness to adopting ideas others had suggested to him.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

off-the-books off the deep end

Browse