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

offer document, offer price, offering, offering price, offertory, offhand, offiah, office, office automation, office bearer, office block

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 forms

off·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 Forms

offhandedly, 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

SYNONYMS FOR offhand

ANTONYMS FOR offhand

Related forms

Examples from the Web for offhand

British Dictionary definitions for offhand

offhand

adjective, adverb Also: offhanded

Derived Forms