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• off-the-cuff
  off-the-cuff

  adjective

  with little or no preparation; extemporaneous; impromptu.
• off the cuff
  off the cuff

  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]

off-the-cuff

American  

[awf-thuh-kuhf, of-] / ˈɔf ðəˈkʌf, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. with little or no preparation; extemporaneous; impromptu.

   a speaker with a good off-the-cuff delivery.

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off the cuff Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of off-the-cuff

First recorded in 1940–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

off-the-cuff off the cuff

While it was an off-the-cuff comment, in so many ways, the moment captured a sentiment in Silicon Valley these days when it comes to the fierce and confusing debate between AI accelerationists and doomers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

One thing was obvious: award show producers took great strides to prevent that type of off-the-cuff moment involving comedians from ever happening again.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

This year, candidates are increasingly pivoting to social media to post snappy, off-the-cuff videos that could fuel momentum for their campaigns if they go viral.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

Musician Dougie Breslin, a regular Sunday night performer at the Derry bar, captured the off-the-cuff performance on video ahead of a gig of his own.

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026

They’re fighting for control of our psychic selves; the empathy box on one hand, Buster’s guffaws and off-the-cuff jibes on the other.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

It was an "off the cuff comment", says Andrew, but the phrase haunts them to this day.

From BBC ● May 11, 2026

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt suddenly announced it at the 1943 Casablanca conference as an aim of the World War II Allies, he did so off the cuff.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 12, 2026

“I teach pretty off the cuff, and my lectures are critical, so I’m also very tuned in to making sure I’m not getting recorded.”

From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2026

When he speaks off the cuff it’s a gamble—he doesn’t know what he’s going to say either!—and gambles are exciting and diverting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026

The most effective off- the-cuff speeches are premeditated, and the best premeditated speeches appear off the cuff.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

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