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offhand - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'offhand' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Offhand [ a.]
- Instant; ready; extemporaneous; as, an offhand speech; offhand excuses.
2 . Offhand [ adv.]
- In an offhand manner; as, he replied offhand.

Meaning of 'offhand' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . offhand [ r]
Meaning (1):
- without previous thought or preparation
Example in sentence:
  • couldn't give the figures offhand;
  • she had made these remarks offhandedly;
  • we decided offhand to go to Canada
Meaning (2):
- in a casually inconsiderate manner
Example in sentence:
  • replied offhand, his mind a million miles away;
  • she threw him over offhandedly without even a Dear-John letter
3 . offhand [ s]
Meaning (3):
- with little or no preparation or forethought
Example in sentence:
  • a few unrehearsed comments;
  • an extemporaneous piano recital;
  • an extemporary lecture;
  • an extempore skit;
  • an impromptu speech;
  • an off-the-cuff toast;
  • his ad-lib comments showed poor judgment;
  • offhand excuses;
  • trying to sound offhanded and reassuring
Meaning (4):
- casually thoughtless or inconsiderate
Example in sentence:
  • an offhand manner;
  • she treated most men with offhand contempt

Nearby Words:

off offal offcut offence offend offendant offended offender offending offendress

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