off-the-record

American  

[awf-thuh-rek-erd, of-] / ˈɔf ðəˈrɛk ərd, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. not for publication; not to be quoted.

   a candidate's off-the-record remarks to reporters.

2. confidential.

   off-the-record information.

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off the record British  

adjective

1. not intended for publication or disclosure; confidential

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adverb

1. with such an intention; unofficially

off the record Idioms  

1. Unofficially, in confidence, not for publication, as in What he was about to say, he told the reporters, was strictly off the record. Probably alluding to striking evidence from a court record (because it is irrelevant or improper), this term came into wide use in the mid-1900s, especially with reference to persons who did not wish to be quoted by journalists. For antonyms, see go on record; just for the record.

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Etymology

Origin of off-the-record

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

She was also reported to have privately disparaged the show’s correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who reported the segment, to journalists in off-the-record briefings.

From Salon

During that interview, he took an off-the-record call with Petro.

From Salon

Some in government have blamed the 48-year-old adviser for being behind the briefings - and of importing a culture of off-the-record chats with journalists from opposition into Downing Street.

From BBC

It's a word which comes up again and again at the moment in off-the-record conversations with ministers, government advisers and Labour MPs.

From BBC

A chorus of off-the-record criticism, much of it strikingly personal, threatened to overwhelm the government.

From BBC

Related Words

• confidentially
• privately