off the cuff

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase off the cuff, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression off the cuff used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "off the cuff"

Meaning

The phrase ‘off the cuff’ typically refers to a spontaneous or extemporaneous response, usually one that is not well thought-out or prepared. It is often used to imply that a remark or answer was not planned, but was made in the moment without any pre-existing plan. The phrase is commonly used to describe a statement made without prior thought or preparation, often with the implication that it is not carefully considered or considered to be of the same quality as a more thought-out remark.

Etymology

The phrase ‘off the cuff’ is believed to originate from the practice of keeping notes, often written on a cuff, so that a speaker could refer to them during a presentation. The phrase began to be commonly used in the late 1800s. The earliest recorded use is from an 1877 edition of the British newspaper 'The Spectator', in a piece by F. Anstey which reads “He has a way of his own of ‘talking off the cuff’.”

Usage

'Off the cuff' is often used in everyday conversation. The phrase is often used to describe a response that wasn’t prepared and to lighten the mood of a conversation, especially if the speaker is discussing a difficult or sensitive topic. It can also be used in more serious contexts to indicate a lack of preparation or a lack of depth in an answer.

Example Sentences

• I'm sorry, I don't have a prepared answer, so I'm just going to give you my best off-the-cuff response.
• I'm not sure what the appropriate response is, but I'll give you my off-the-cuff opinion.
• I'm not an expert on this topic, so I'm going to give you my off-the-cuff response.

Idioms with similar meaning

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is an English idiom that means you shouldn't make assumptions about someone or something based solely on its appearance. In Japanese, the similar idiom is "Hana yori dango," which translates to "Dumplings rather than flowers." This idiom means that substance is more important than appearance.