offhanded

Thân thiện

She made an offhanded remark that hurt his feelings.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Casually thoughtless or inconsiderate: Done or said without care, attention, or proper respect; showing a lack of courtesy or consideration.
   • With little or no preparation or forethought: Spoken, performed, or done without prior planning or rehearsal; impromptu.

2. Adverb:

   • In a casually inconsiderate manner: Acting or speaking in a way that shows a lack of care or respect.
   • Without previous thought or preparation: Immediately, without taking time to think or prepare.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • His offhanded remark about her work was quite hurtful.
  • She gave an offhanded answer, not realizing the importance of the question.
  • The manager's offhanded dismissal of the complaint angered the staff.

• Adverb (often as "offhand" or "offhandedly"):

  • "I don't know," he said offhandedly, not looking up from his phone.
  • She offhandedly mentioned they were closing the office, causing immediate panic.
  • I can't quote the exact price offhand; I'd need to check the records.

Advanced Usage

• "Offhanded contempt": A feeling of disdain or scorn expressed in a casual, unthinking manner.

  • He spoke of his former colleagues with offhanded contempt.

• "An offhanded manner": A characteristic way of behaving that is casual to the point of seeming rude or uninterested.

  • His offhanded manner in meetings often offended potential clients.

Variants and Related Words

• Offhand (adj/adv): The more common, shorter form with identical meanings.
  • He gave an offhand reply.
• Offhandedly (adv): The adverbial form.
  • She agreed offhandedly to the proposal.
• Offhandedness (n): The quality or state of being offhanded.
  • The offhandedness of his apology made it seem insincere.

Synonyms

• Adjective (thoughtless): Casual, careless, perfunctory, curt, brusque, dismissive.
• Adjective (unprepared): Impromptu, extemporaneous, ad-lib, unrehearsed, spontaneous, improvised.
• Adverb: Casually, thoughtlessly, spontaneously, extemporaneously.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Considerate, thoughtful, deliberate, prepared, rehearsed, planned.
• Adverb: Carefully, thoughtfully, deliberately, formally.

Notes on Usage

• The term often carries a negative connotation when describing a manner, implying rudeness or a lack of respect.
• When describing a speech or action, it can be neutral or even slightly positive, emphasizing spontaneity, though it may also imply a lack of polish or forethought.
• The adverbial forms "offhand" and "offhandedly" are more frequently used than the adjective "offhanded."

Học thuật

Adjective

1. casually thoughtless or inconsiderate
   • an offhand manner
   • she treated most men with offhand contempt
2. 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

1. in a casually inconsiderate manner
   • replied offhand, his mind a million miles away
   • she threw him over offhandedly without even a Dear-John letter
2. without previous thought or preparation
   • couldn't give the figures offhand
   • we decided offhand to go to Canada
   • she had made these remarks offhandedly

Từ đồng nghĩa

• offhand
• ad-lib
• extemporaneous
• extemporary
• extempore
• impromptu
• off-the-cuff
• unrehearsed
• offhandedly