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• off-the-rack
  off-the-rack

  adjective

  (of clothing) not made to specific or individual requirements; ready-made.
• off the rack
  off the rack

  Ready-made, as in She has all her clothes made; she never buys a dress off the rack. The rack here is a frame from which clothes are hung. [Mid-1900s] A British synonym is off the peg, similarly alluding to a knob from which clothes are hung and dating from the late 1800s. Also see off the shelf.

off-the-rack

American  

[awf-thuh-rak, of-] / ˈɔf ðəˈræk, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. (of clothing) not made to specific or individual requirements; ready-made.

   off-the-rack men's suits.

2. Slang. off-the-wall.

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off the rack Idioms  

1. Ready-made, as in She has all her clothes made; she never buys a dress off the rack. The rack here is a frame from which clothes are hung. [Mid-1900s] A British synonym is off the peg, similarly alluding to a knob from which clothes are hung and dating from the late 1800s. Also see off the shelf.

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Etymology

Origin of off-the-rack

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

off-the-rack off the rack

At the start of the 1970s, before the dollar’s link to gold was severed, an ounce might have gotten you an off-the-rack seersucker at J.C.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

It’s the shift from battleships to PT boats, from handmade suits to off-the-rack ones.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2025

It prevents you from doing anything too foolish, while still freeing you of the compromise of the off-the-rack suit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2024

When we accessorize, Herd said, we’re putting a “personal spin” on an off-the-rack purchase.

From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2024

My pearls, my belts, my cardigans, my off-the-rack dresses from J.Crew, my apparently brave choice of white for an inaugural gown—all seemed to trigger a slew of opinions and instant feedback.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Likewise, Paris Fashion Week isn’t known to feature designers whose collections can be worn off the rack, instead showcasing works of great sartorial ambition, with severe silhouettes and playful flourishes alike.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026

Still, these income sources didn’t add up to a lot, so I couldn’t waltz out and buy garments off the rack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025

Finding glam looks off the rack can be a challenge for most women.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

Realising the malfunction could kill the show's momentum, she grabs a costume off the rack and starts to get changed, serving fans a new look when she returns to the stage.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2023

Big Ma kept pulling hangers of pleated wool skirts off the rack and putting them back.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia