offhand
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Done or said without preparation or prior thought; spontaneous: Describes remarks, actions, or manners that are casual, improvised, and not planned in advance.
- Casually informal, sometimes to the point of seeming rude or dismissive: Describes a manner that is relaxed but can appear thoughtless, inconsiderate, or lacking in due respect.
Adverb:
- Without preparation or prior thought; on the spur of the moment: Indicates that an action is performed or words are spoken spontaneously.
- In a casually informal or dismissive manner: Indicates an action is done with a casual air that may seem brusque.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- He made an offhand remark that he later regretted. (His comment was spontaneous and not carefully considered.)
- Her offhand manner during the meeting came across as disrespectful. (Her casual demeanor seemed inconsiderate.)
- Adverb:
- I can't quote the exact statistics offhand. (I cannot recall the precise figures without checking or preparing.)
- She dismissed the complex proposal offhand, without reviewing the details. (She rejected it immediately and casually.)
Advanced Usage
- "Offhand" vs. "Offhanded": "Offhand" is the standard form for both adjective and adverb. "Offhanded" is a less common variant, primarily used as an adjective (e.g., ). Their meanings are identical.
- Used to describe a style of speaking or acting that is deliberately nonchalant, often to mask true feelings or effort.
- He answered with offhand ease, though we knew he had practiced for hours.
Variants and Related Words
- Offhanded (adj): A variant of the adjective "offhand." (e.g., ).
- Offhandedly (adv): The adverbial form derived from "offhanded." (e.g., ).
- Extemporaneous (adj): Similar in meaning, emphasizing something spoken or done with little preparation.
- Impromptu (adj): Very similar, describing something done without being planned or rehearsed.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Casual, spontaneous, impromptu, extemporaneous, unthinking, cursory, perfunctory.
- Adverb: Spontaneously, extemporaneously, impromptu, casually, without thinking.
Related Phrases
- Off-the-cuff: (adj/adv) Almost identical in meaning to "offhand," describing something said or done without preparation.
- He gave an off-the-cuff speech that was surprisingly eloquent.
- Throw off (a comment): To say something casually or without emphasis.
- She threw off a suggestion as she was leaving.
Related Idioms
- At the drop of a hat: Willing to do something immediately and without preparation. While similar in spontaneity, it lacks the potential connotation of casual dismissiveness found in "offhand."
- He's always ready to help at the drop of a hat.
Adjective
- casually thoughtless or inconsiderate
- an offhand manner
- she treated most men with offhand contempt
- with little or no preparation or forethought
- his ad-lib comments showed poor judgment
- an extemporaneous piano recital
- an extemporary lecture
- an extempore skit
- an impromptu speech
- offhand excuses
- trying to sound offhanded and reassuring
- an off-the-cuff toast
- a few unrehearsed comments
Adverb
- in a casually inconsiderate manner
- replied offhand, his mind a million miles away
- she threw him over offhandedly without even a Dear-John letter
- without previous thought or preparation
- couldn't give the figures offhand
- we decided offhand to go to Canada
- she had made these remarks offhandedly