Standard Lemma guide

off-the-cuff

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Extemporaneous; without prior preparation; spontaneous; impromptu.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • He made a few off-the-cuff remarks before launching into his prepared speech.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ad lib, extemporal, extemporary, extemporaneous, extempore, extemporized, gash, impromptu, improvised, improviso, off-the-cuff, offhand, spur-of-the-moment

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

with little or no preparation or forethought

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • 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
  • an off-the-cuff toast
  • a few unrehearsed comments

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ad-lib, extemporaneous, extemporary, extempore, impromptu, offhand, offhanded, unrehearsed

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the prepositional phrase off the cuff.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lonkalta — off-the-cuff
  • Finnish: suoralta kädeltä — off-the-cuff
  • French: spontané — off-the-cuff
  • French: improvisé — off-the-cuff
  • German: spontan — off-the-cuff
  • German: aus dem Stegreif — off-the-cuff
  • German: aus dem Stand — off-the-cuff
  • German: aus dem Handgelenk — off-the-cuff
  • German: Stegreif- — off-the-cuff
  • German: aus dem Ärmel geschüttelt — off-the-cuff
  • German: aus dem Hemdsärmel — off-the-cuff
  • Greek: αυθόρμητος (afthórmitos) — off-the-cuff
  • Polish: spontaniczny — off-the-cuff
  • Polish: zaimprowizowany — off-the-cuff
  • Spanish: improvisado — off-the-cuff
  • Spanish: espontáneo — off-the-cuff