offhand

[ awf-hand, of- ]

/ ˈɔfˈhænd, ˈɒf- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR offhand ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

cavalierly, curtly, or brusquely: to reply offhand.

without previous thought or preparation; extempore: to decide offhand to take a trip.

adjective

informal, casual, curt, or brusque: an offhand manner.

Also off·hand·ed. done or made offhand.

Glassmaking. working manually and without the use of molds: offhand blowing.

Nearby words

Origin of offhand

First recorded in 1685–95; off + hand

SYNONYMS FOR offhand

1. short, shortly, abruptly. 3, 4. impromptu, extempore.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR offhand ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR offhand

4. considered.

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Related formsoff·hand·ed·ly, adverboff·hand·ed·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for offhand

Offhand, I can think of two Jacks—Jack of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and Jack the Ripper, who cut quite a figure in his day.
Harvey Weinstein’s Battle With Warner Bros. Over ‘The Butler’: There's History|Marlow Stern|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One aide monitoring the speech gave it the kind of offhand tweet it deserves.
Romney's Birther "Joke" and the Automatic Outrage Machine|Michael Tomasky|August 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Everyone should watch what they say lest their offhand remarks be twisted and damage the company.
Rupert Murdoch Bares Media’s Reach to Leveson Inquiry on Phone Hacking|Nicholas Wapshott|April 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
C-SPAN Negotiations An offhand promise in a debate ended up coming back to haunt Democrats during the health-care debate.
Obama's 7 Broken Promises|The Daily Beast|April 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Was the threat just an offhand comment that got quoted in the press?
The G-20's Drama Queen|Eric Pape|September 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
I would say around 1:40, that is as near as I could say offhand, Mr. Hubert.
Warren Commission (12 of 26): Hearings Vol. XII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
“Just walked round by the hills,” she echoed, mocking his offhand manner, and burst out laughing.
The Woman from Outside|Hulbert Footner
His unpopular Hanoverian tendencies, and the offhand manner in which he had treated the Pelhams, secured Carteret's fall.
A History of England, Period III.|Rev. J. Franck Bright
Fendrick, now in the best of humors, planted lazily his offhand barbs.
Crooked Trails and Straight|William MacLeod Raine
Pretty soon he came strolling over and said sort of offhand like, Lets follow these broken bushes in a ways.
Roy Blakeley's Motor Caravan|Percy Keese Fitzhugh

British Dictionary definitions for offhand

offhand

/ (ˌɒfˈhænd) /

adjective, adverb Also: offhanded

without care, thought, or consideration; sometimes, brusque or ungraciousan offhand manner

without preparation or warning; impromptu

Derived Formsoffhandedly, adverboffhandedness, noun

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

offhand

adverb

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of offhand

Examples from the Web for offhand

offhand

adjective, adverb Also: offhanded