: not prepared in advance : spontaneous, informal
off-the-cuff remarks
off-the-cuff adverb

Examples of off-the-cuff in a Sentence

having gotten into hot water with some unfortunate off-the-cuff remarks, the candidate now limits himself to his carefully prepared campaign speech
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But if this doesn’t happen, grabbing the mic unexpectedly for an off-the-cuff speech (especially after a few glasses of wine) will not be appreciated. Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Feb. 2025 The fourth film in the Korean detective series starring Ma Dong-seok, known as Don Lee, is just as bruising and off-the-cuff as its predecessors. Robert Daniels, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 President Donald Trump‘s eye-catching foreign policy at the start of his second term is more than just a series of fanciful, off-the-cuff suggestions and is rather an attempt to strong-arm unwilling leaders to the negotiating table, insiders say. Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Jan. 2025 Cast members tend to seem like regular, if colorful, folks who speak off-the-cuff. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for off-the-cuff 

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-the-cuff was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near off-the-cuff

Cite this Entry

“Off-the-cuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-the-cuff. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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