off-the-shelf
[ awf-thuh-shelf, of- ]
/ ˈɔf ðəˈʃɛlf, ˈɒf- /
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adjective
readily available from merchandise in stock.
made according to a standardized format; not developed for specialized or individual needs; ready-made: off-the-shelf computer programs.
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Origin of off-the-shelf
First recorded in 1945–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for off-the-shelf
British Dictionary definitions for off-the-shelf
off the shelf
adverb
from stock and readily availableyou can have this model off the shelf
adjective (off-the-shelf when prenominal)
of or relating to a product that is readily availablean off-the-shelf model
of or denoting a company that has been registered with the Registrar of Companies for the sole purpose of being sold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Idioms and Phrases with off-the-shelf
off the shelf
Ready-made, available from merchandise or in stock, as opposed to a special order. For example, Sometimes you can get a better discount by buying an appliance off the shelf. [First half of 1900s] Also see off the rack; on the shelf.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.