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off-the-peg

American  
[awf-thuh-peg, of-] / ˈɔf ðəˈpɛg, ˈɒf- /

adjective

British.
  1. ready-to-wear.


off-the-peg British  

adjective

  1. (of clothing) ready to wear; not produced especially for the person buying

"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

Etymology

Origin of off-the-peg

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The 21st century has seen a trend for pads, fillers, and surgery to enlarge lips, breasts, and buttocks, but we don’t yet have off-the-peg belly pads as they did in 1793.

From Slate Jul. 21, 2025

It fit, though not meaningfully better than an off-the-peg one that had been altered.

From The New Yorker Jul. 11, 2016

The team’s shirts symbolised Liverpool’s abrupt and shocking descent into mediocrity: an off-the-peg Adidas template, the company stripes draped asymmetrically over one shoulder, was also worn by several other clubs around Europe.

From The Guardian Oct. 15, 2015

The series of off-the-peg glass office buildings located on an upmarket industrial park belie the exotic endeavours that take place within.

From BBC Oct. 3, 2014

Even the nearest drug store, wary of that row of the transient hat-on-the-peg, off-the-peg, would deliver to No. 28 a mustard plaster or a deck of cards and charge without question.

From The Vertical City by Hurst, Fannie

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