offhand

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See also: off-hand

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

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

Adjective

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.
  3. Curt, abrupt, unfriendly.
    She was quite offhand with me yesterday.

Synonyms

Translations

See also

Adverb

offhand (comparative more offhand, superlative most offhand)

  1. Right away, immediately, without thinking about it.
    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

Anagrams

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