Offhand
adverb
Done without any planning or thought.
She answered the question offhand, without thinking.
Often appears as...
- offhand remark
- an offhand answer
adjective
Not friendly, or seeming to consider others as unimportant.
Her offhand remarks hurt my feelings.
Often appears as...
- offhand treatment
- offhand behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adverb
Without needing to check facts or information.
Offhand, I couldn't tell you how much it costs.
Often appears as...
- know offhand
- couldn't tell you offhand
adverb
Done without any planning or thought.
She answered the question offhand, without thinking.
Often appears as...
- offhand remark
- an offhand answer
adjective
Not friendly, or seeming to consider others as unimportant.
Her offhand remarks hurt my feelings.
Often appears as...
- offhand treatment
- offhand behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adverb
Without needing to check facts or information.
Offhand, I couldn't tell you how much it costs.
Often appears as...
- know offhand
- couldn't tell you offhand
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Impromptu Usage
Use 'offhand' to describe actions done without preparation or rehearsal.
He gave an offhand performance that surprisingly impressed everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Perceived Rudeness
Be cautious as 'offhand' can imply rudeness if an action seems dismissive.
His offhand reply to her question came across as rude.
Pro Tip 3/3Spontaneity
'Offhand' suggests acting on the spot, without prior thought or plan.
The comedian's offhand jokes were a hit with the audience.
Pro Tip 1/3Impromptu Usage
Use 'offhand' to describe actions done without preparation or rehearsal.
He gave an offhand performance that surprisingly impressed everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Perceived Rudeness
Be cautious as 'offhand' can imply rudeness if an action seems dismissive.
His offhand reply to her question came across as rude.
Pro Tip 3/3Spontaneity
'Offhand' suggests acting on the spot, without prior thought or plan.
The comedian's offhand jokes were a hit with the audience.
Pro Tip 1/3Impromptu Usage
Use 'offhand' to describe actions done without preparation or rehearsal.
He gave an offhand performance that surprisingly impressed everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Perceived Rudeness
Be cautious as 'offhand' can imply rudeness if an action seems dismissive.
His offhand reply to her question came across as rude.
Pro Tip 3/3Spontaneity
'Offhand' suggests acting on the spot, without prior thought or plan.
The comedian's offhand jokes were a hit with the audience.
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Video examples
What silence can teach...
It started as something of a political statement or an offhand comment, but this idea struck a nerve and quickly evolved. John Cage was starting to think deeply about silence. And when he visited a truly quiet place, he made a startling discovery.
Video examples
Ultralight Camping: How...
nights you really have to look at what it is you need versus what it is you want there are certain types of equipment that I have come to love when I need to shave ounces one of those that I think of offhand would be certain
Video examples
What silence can teach...
It started as something of a political statement or an offhand comment, but this idea struck a nerve and quickly evolved. John Cage was starting to think deeply about silence. And when he visited a truly quiet place, he made a startling discovery.
Video examples
Ultralight Camping: How...
nights you really have to look at what it is you need versus what it is you want there are certain types of equipment that I have come to love when I need to shave ounces one of those that I think of offhand would be certain
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Sam Hunt
American Musician
I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big time Zorro fan. My mom helped me make it, and I remember having a big issue with the fact that she wouldn't let me carry around a real metal sword; it just had to be plastic.
Quote examples
Tim Bishop
American Politician
We have one of the few societies, the only one I can think of right offhand, where your health care is so tied to your job, so that when an American company has to hire, they have to think about health care.
Quote examples
James Thurber
American Author
My opposition to Interviews lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language.
Quote examples
Bob Seger
American Musician
I'm just trying to keep things simple, and just be a little more offhand and not get so deep into things. Enjoy what you got right now, because who knows what's going to happen tomorrow.
Quote examples
Jason Mewes
American Actor
It was a lot of fun on the set. I had the most fun making that movie out of all of them. I'm sure if I sat and thought about it, but none that I could think of offhand.
Quote examples
Alden Nowlan
Canadian Poet
Offhand, the only North American writers I can think of who have come from a background of rural poverty and gone on to write about it have been Negroes.
Quote examples
Thomas Hardy
English Novelist
The offhand decision of some commonplace mind high in office at a critical moment influences the course of events for a hundred years.
Quote examples
Jerry Saltz
American Critic
Wolfgang Tillman's stunning large-scale pictures, being shown for the first time, were so offhand I failed to see them as art.
Quote examples
Casper Van Dien
American Actor
I do really crazy things all the time, but I can't think of anything offhand.
Quote examples
Sam Hunt
American Musician
I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big time Zorro fan. My mom helped me make it, and I remember having a big issue with the fact that she wouldn't let me carry around a real metal sword; it just had to be plastic.
Quote examples
Tim Bishop
American Politician
We have one of the few societies, the only one I can think of right offhand, where your health care is so tied to your job, so that when an American company has to hire, they have to think about health care.
Quote examples
James Thurber
American Author
My opposition to Interviews lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language.
Quote examples
Bob Seger
American Musician
I'm just trying to keep things simple, and just be a little more offhand and not get so deep into things. Enjoy what you got right now, because who knows what's going to happen tomorrow.
Quote examples
Jason Mewes
American Actor
It was a lot of fun on the set. I had the most fun making that movie out of all of them. I'm sure if I sat and thought about it, but none that I could think of offhand.
Quote examples
Alden Nowlan
Canadian Poet
Offhand, the only North American writers I can think of who have come from a background of rural poverty and gone on to write about it have been Negroes.
Quote examples
Thomas Hardy
English Novelist
The offhand decision of some commonplace mind high in office at a critical moment influences the course of events for a hundred years.
Quote examples
Jerry Saltz
American Critic
Wolfgang Tillman's stunning large-scale pictures, being shown for the first time, were so offhand I failed to see them as art.
Quote examples
Casper Van Dien
American Actor
I do really crazy things all the time, but I can't think of anything offhand.
Example 1 of 9
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