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offhand

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: off-hand

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English *ofhande, *ofhende, from Old English ofhende (absent, lost), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *abahandijaz. Equivalent to (and re-formed as) off- +‎ hand. Cognate with Icelandic afhendur. Compare onhand.

Pronunciation

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  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌɔfˈhænd/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ænd

Adjective

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offhand (comparative more offhand, superlative most offhand)

  1. Without planning or thinking ahead.
    She gave an offhand speech.
  2. Careless; without sufficient thought or consideration.
    He doesn't realise how hurtful his offhand remarks can be.
    • 2025 April 21, Jason Horowitz, Jim Yardley, “Francis, the First Latin American Pope, Dies at 88”, in The New York Times[2]:
      In September 2019, on the papal plane en route to Mozambique, Francis acknowledged the sharp opposition he faced from conservative detractors in the United States in an offhand remark. He said, it was “an honor that the Americans attack me.”
  3. Curt, abrupt, unfriendly.
    She was quite offhand with me yesterday.

Synonyms

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Translations

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See also

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Adverb

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offhand (comparative more offhand, superlative most offhand)

  1. Right away, immediately, without thinking about it.
    Synonym: out of hand
    Offhand, I'd guess that that's a yellow-bellied sapsucker.
    • 1854, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Rose and the Ring:
      We will have no more of this shilly-shallying! Call the Archbishop, and let the Prince and Princess be married offhand!
  2. In an abrupt or unfriendly manner.

Translations

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Anagrams

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